The explosive right-hander was striking the ball with great power in the fixture against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
As the game has emerged over the last few years, power-hitting has become a huge aspect of the sport. Franchise leagues thrive on the players who can hit the long ball, and the shortest format of the game demands the same. That being said, Rovman Powell is hitting the ball really far in the ILT20 2025-26, which is being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Playing for the Dubai Capitals, the 32-year-old Wet Indian power-hitter smashed an unbeaten 96 off just 52 deliveries to steer his team to a competitive total of 186/4. His innings consisted of eight fours and four maximums at a strike-rate of 184.61 – which is awesome in the shortest format. Rovman Powell revived the Capitals’ innings after a jittery start left them at 43/3.
Soon after the Indian Premier League (IPL) release and retention lists were rolled out by every franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) placed Rovman Powell in the retained players list. The West Indian power-hitter expressed his gratitude for the trust the franchise had shown in his abilities. He also stated that the upcoming season would be his chance to repay his faith to the franchise.
“It felt good to hear. The franchise showed faith in me. Now it’s my turn to live up to that trust in the 2026 IPL”, said Rovman Powell after being retained for IPL 2026.
ALSO READ:
The amount of questions to solve and the purse available for the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 auction are directly proportional for the three-time IPL champions. The Knight Riders have a lot of positions to fill ahead of the IPL 2026 auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. They have let go of some players who were important to the success of the franchise, and will have to look for able replacements.
With the highest purse in the auction, that would not be a very big challenge. The challenge remains to be the scouting and player management ahead of an important season. The franchise let go of Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell, and are expected to bid for Cameron Green in the mini-auction. KKR need to acquire the services of Green as their all-rounder option.
That being said, Rovman Powell can be a real force to reckon with for the three-time IPL champions. With Green expected to play in the top four (if they manage to acquire his services), the franchise would need some strong power-hitters lower down the order – similar to the role that Russell used to play. With the performances that he is showcasing, Rovman Powell might be the best suit for the role. And the fact that franchise has retained him could be signs that they are looking in the same direction.
The West Indian player can take the bowlers to the cleaners. One of the best qualities a franchise needs in the death overs would be strength, and Powell has shown that he has ample of it. In the ILT20 fixture, he came out when the score was 43/3, and propelled the team to a competitive total while almost scoring a century. This shows he also has the ability to churn out singles and play the situation.
For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
