Trinbago Knight Riders CPL 2026 Schedule: All Fixtures, Dates, Venues & Times
Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) enter the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League as defending champions, having claimed their fifth title in CPL 2025 under the captaincy of Nicholas Pooran. The 2026 edition is the most expanded tournament in CPL history — seven teams, 39 matches, and matches spread across eight Caribbean nations from August 7 to September 20, 2026.
Trinbago Knight Riders’ CPL 2026 campaign begins on August 8 against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in St Vincent. They play 10 group-stage matches across six Caribbean nations, with their home leg at Queen’s Park Oval running from August 26 to September 2. The tournament final is on September 20 at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
TKR CPL 2026 – Quick Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Team | Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) |
| Captain | Nicholas Pooran |
| Head Coach | Dwayne Bravo |
| Owner | Knight Riders Group (Shah Rukh Khan) |
| Home Ground | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad |
| Secondary Ground | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba |
| CPL Titles | 5 (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2025) |
| First Match 2026 | August 8 vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots |
| Tournament Format | 7 teams, 39 matches, single round-robin + playoffs |
TKR’s opening fixture of the season takes place on Saturday, August 8, when they face the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent — one of the two brand-new CPL venues for 2026.
Full Trinbago Knight Riders CPL 2026 Match Schedule
All times listed are local Caribbean Standard Time (AST/UTC-4). IST = Indian Standard Time (UTC+5:30).
| Match | Date | Day | Oppon | Venue | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Aug 8 | Sat | vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots | Arnos Vale, Kingstown, St Vincent | 7:00 PM |
| 7 | Aug15 | Sat | vs Jamaica Kingsmen | Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica | 7:00 PM |
| 11 | Aug 22 | Sat | vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua | 7:00 PM |
| 14 | Aug 26 | Wed | vs Saint Lucia Kings | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 7:00 PM |
| 16 | Aug 28 | Fri | vs Barbados Royals | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 8:00 PM |
| 17 | Aug 29 | Sat | vs Guyana Amazon Warriors | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 7:00 PM |
| 19 | Aug 31 | Mon | vs Jamaica Kingsmen | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 5:00 PM |
| 20 | Sep 2 | Wed | vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 7:00 PM |
| 25 | Sep 5 | Sat | vs Barbados Royals (away) | Kensington Oval, Barbados | 8:00 PM |
| 30 | Sep11 | Fri | vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (away) | Providence Stadium, Guyana | 7:00 PM |
| Eliminator | Sept 16 | Wed | TBD (3rd vs 4th) | Kensington Oval, Barbados | 7:00 PM |
| Qualifier 1 | Sept 17 | Thu | TBD (1st vs 2nd) | Kensington Oval, Barbados | 8:00 PM |
| Qualifier 2 | Sept 18 | Fri | TBD | Kensington Oval, Barbados | 7:00 PM |
| Final | Sept 20 | Sun | TBD | Kensington Oval, Barbados | 7:00 PM |
Note: TKR play a total of 10 group-stage matches across 6 different Caribbean nations. The league stage runs from August 7 to September 13. Playoffs (Eliminator, Qualifiers, Final) are all at Kensington Oval, Barbados — a historic first for CPL.
TKR Home Fixtures at Queen’s Park Oval & Brian Lara Academy
TKR’s home leg spans August 26 to September 2, with five consecutive home matches at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain — one of the oldest and most storied Test venues in the West Indies.
Queen’s Park Oval Home Games (August 26 – September 2)
| Date | Opponent | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, August 26 | vs Saint Lucia Kings | 7:00 PM |
| Friday, August 28 | vs Barbados Royals | 8:00 PM |
| Saturday, August 29 | vs Guyana Amazon Warriors | 7:00 PM |
| Monday, August 31 | vs Jamaica Kingsmen | 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday, September 2 | vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons | 7:00 PM |
Queen’s Park Oval has a capacity of approximately 25,000. Evening matches in Port of Spain typically benefit from sea breezes, and the outfield is known for being true and fast — expect high-scoring games. The August 29 clash against Guyana Amazon Warriors is TKR’s biggest home fixture and a potential title preview.
Key Rivalries to Watch in 2026
TKR vs Guyana Amazon Warriors — The CPL Final Rematch
This is the defining rivalry of modern CPL cricket. TKR defeated GAW in the 2025 CPL final in a thrilling match, with Akeal Hosein winning the Player of the Match award. The two sides meet twice in the group stage — once at Queen’s Park Oval (August 29) and once at Providence Stadium in Guyana (September 11). If both teams make the top two, a Qualifier 1 showdown is also possible.
| Season | Result |
|---|---|
| CPL 2025 Final | TKR won (Hosein POTM) |
| CPL 2024 Final | TKR won by 5 wickets |
| CPL 2023 | GAW won tournament |
| CPL 2022 | GAW won tournament |
TKR vs Jamaica Kingsmen — The New Rivalry
Jamaica Kingsmen are a brand-new franchise built around CPL returnees Andre Russell and captain Rovman Powell — both of whom played pivotal roles for TKR in recent seasons. Russell won the CPL title with TKR in 2024 before switching to the new franchise. The two TKR-Kingsmen meetings (August 15 in Jamaica; August 31 at home) carry clear grudge-match energy.
TKR vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons — The Trinidad-Antigua Edge
TKR and the Falcons have produced some close encounters in recent seasons, including a 2024 playoff clash. They meet twice (August 22 in Antigua; September 2 in Port of Spain).
Trinbago Knight Riders CPL 2026 Squad
TKR used their right-to-match (RMO) options at the May 15, 2026, CPL mega-draft to hold on to their West Indian championship core, while adding fresh faces through the open draft.
Retained Players (Right-to-Match)
| Player | Role | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Pooran (C) | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Captain, retained via RMO |
| Sunil Narine | Allrounder | Spin and power hitting opener |
| Kieron Pollard | Allrounder | Senior leader; 6 CPL titles as player/captain |
| Akeal Hosein | Left-arm spinner | CPL 2025 Final POTM |
| Terrance Hinds | Batter | RMO retained |
Draft Signings & Other Squad Members
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Justin Greaves | Allrounder |
| Dominic Drakes | Fast bowler |
| Jyd Goolie | Batter |
| Dexter Sween | Spinner |
| Joshua da Silva | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Abdul-Raheem Toppin | Allrounder |
| Nathan Edward | Batter (Breakout, retained) |
Andre Russell left TKR to join the Jamaica Kingsmen, having previously played a major role in TKR’s 2024 CPL title run. His absence is the biggest hole in TKR’s squad, but the retention of Pollard, Narine, Hosein and Pooran keeps the spine of the team intact.
TKR vs GAW Squad Comparison 2026
| Category | TKR | Guyana Amazon Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Nicholas Pooran | TBC |
| Star Spinner | Sunil Narine | Gudakesh Motie |
| Power Hitter | Kieron Pollard | TBC |
| Left-arm Spin | Akeal Hosein | Khary Pierre |
| CPL Titles | 5 | 0 |
TKR Coaching Staff & Ownership
Head Coach: Dwayne Bravo — the legendary Trinidad allrounder who captained TKR from 2013 to 2019 and led them to three CPL titles (2015, 2017, 2018). Bravo retired from professional cricket in CPL 2024 and moved seamlessly into coaching. His deep knowledge of Trinidad conditions and T20 strategy is a significant advantage.
Captain: Nicholas Pooran — took over from Kieron Pollard in August 2025 and led TKR to the CPL 2025 title in his first season as captain.
Owners: The Knight Riders Group — a Mumbai-based sports investment vehicle led by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and industrialist Jay Mehta (via Red Chillies Entertainment). The group bought the franchise in 2015 (then known as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel) and renamed it Trinbago Knight Riders in 2016 to align with the Kolkata Knight Riders brand identity. The Knight Riders group also owns teams in the ILT20, MLC (New York), and Global Super League — making TKR part of a four-league franchise ecosystem.
CPL 2026 Playoff Schedule & Final Details
The CPL 2026 playoffs are entirely hosted at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados — the first time in the tournament’s history that Barbados has hosted the CPL final. This was described by CPL CEO Pete Russell as the “biggest and most memorable finale in the tournament’s 14-year history.”
| Stage | Date | Day | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eliminator | September 16 | Wednesday | 3rd vs 4th; loser eliminated |
| Qualifier 1 | September 17 | Thursday | 1st vs 2nd; winner goes to final |
| Qualifier 2 | September 18 | Friday | Winner Eliminator vs Loser Q1 |
| CPL 2026 Final | September 20 | Sunday | Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 |
How TKR Can Reach the Final:
- Finish 1st or 2nd → Enter Qualifier 1; one win secures the final berth.
- Finish 3rd or 4th → Must win the Eliminator, then Qualifier 2 to reach the final.
- Finish 5th–7th → Eliminated at group stage.
TKR’s Playoff Record:
TKR have appeared in the top four in the majority of CPL seasons. Their five title wins in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2025 make them the most reliable playoff performer in CPL history.
Where to Watch TKR CPL 2026 Live
| Region | Broadcaster | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean / West Indies | Flow Sports / SportsMax | Primary regional broadcaster |
| United States | Willow TV | Available on Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV Sports Plus |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Part of Sky’s cricket coverage |
| India / South Asia | Fan Code / Star Sports Network | Check local listings |
| Global (streaming) | cplt20.com | Official stream details TBC closer to tournament |
TKR matches in the Caribbean timezone start at 7:00 PM AST. For South Asian fans, this means most TKR games begin at 4:30 AM IST. The home match on August 28 (vs Barbados Royals) starts at 8:00 PM local / 5:30 AM IST — the latest start time in TKR’s schedule.
TKR CPL Title History – The Most Successful Franchise
Trinbago Knight Riders are the only franchise to have won five CPL titles, placing them comfortably ahead of every rival.
| Year | Title | Final Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | CPL Champions | Barbados Tridents | TKR won |
| 2017 | CPL Champions | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots | TKR won |
| 2018 | CPL Champions | Guyana Amazon Warriors | TKR won |
| 2020 | CPL Champions | St Lucia Zouks | TKR won (unbeaten) |
| 2025 | CPL Champions | Guyana Amazon Warriors | TKR won (Hosein POTM) |
The 2020 season was especially dominant — TKR went through the entire CPL tournament without losing a single match, one of the most complete performances in franchise T20 cricket history anywhere in the world.
TKR Fantasy Cricket Picks for CPL 2026
TKR’s squad structure makes them one of the most reliable fantasy cricket options in CPL 2026. Here are the key picks:
Premium Captain Options:
- Nicholas Pooran — Explosive wicketkeeper-batter with captain’s form. Gets maximum batting opportunity and is reliable for catches and stumpings.
- Sunil Narine — Dual-threat value: opening bat who can launch from ball one, plus 4 overs of mystery spin. Ideal as captain when TKR bat first on a turning track.
High-Value Allrounders:
- Kieron Pollard — Lower fantasy cost than Pooran/Narine but still provides bat, occasional overs, and field. Perfect for a differential captain when TKR face weaker bowling attacks.
- Akeal Hosein — Left-arm spin on Caribbean tracks. The CPL 2025 final POTM is primed for another big campaign and often punches above his batting position.
Budget Picks:
- Terrance Hinds — Useful lower-order hitter; often under-priced in fantasy.
- Dominic Drakes — Pace bowler capable of powerplay wickets; valuable on T&T pitches.
Venues to Note for Fantasy:
- Queen’s Park Oval (Trinidad): Spinners traditionally do well. Back Narine and Hosein heavily.
- Sabina Park (Jamaica): Faster pitch; pace bowlers get more assistance.
- Providence Stadium (Guyana): Flat and high-scoring; back power hitters.
FAQs –
When is TKR’s first match in CPL 2026?
Trinbago Knight Riders play their first CPL 2026 match on Saturday, August 8, against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent. The match starts at 7:00 PM Caribbean time (4:30 AM IST on August 9).
How many matches will TKR play in CPL 2026?
In the group stage, TKR play 10 matches (one against each of the other six franchises, with some teams appearing twice in a double-round system due to the expanded 7-team format). If TKR qualify for the playoffs, they can play up to 3 additional matches — Eliminator/Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, and the Final on September 20.
Where do TKR play their home matches in CPL 2026?
TKR’s home base is Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Their home leg runs from August 26 to September 2, with five consecutive home matches. Selected fixtures in past seasons have also been held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, though the 2026 schedule places all TKR home games at Queen’s Park Oval.
Who is the captain of the Trinbago Knight Riders in CPL 2026?
Nicholas Pooran captains TKR in CPL 2026. He took over the captaincy in mid-2025 and led the team to the CPL 2025 title. He was retained via right-to-match at the May 2026 draft.
Is Sunil Narine playing for TKR in CPL 2026?
Yes. Sunil Narine was retained by TKR through the right-to-match process at the 2026 CPL draft, alongside Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, and Akeal Hosein.
Is Andre Russell still in TKR’s squad?
No. Andre Russell left Trinbago Knight Riders in 2026 to join the newly formed Jamaica Kingsmen, alongside captain Rovman Powell. Russell played a key role in TKR’s 2024 title win but was not retained for the 2026 campaign.
Who owns Trinbago Knight Riders?
TKR is owned by the Knight Riders Group, a Mumbai-based sports investment company led by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and industrialist Jay Mehta. The same group owns Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
What is TKR’s biggest rivalry in CPL 2026?
TKR’s principal rivalry is with the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), whom they defeated in the CPL 2025 final. The teams meet twice in the group stage — August 29 (Queen’s Park Oval) and September 11 (Providence Stadium, Guyana). A third meeting in the playoffs is highly likely given both sides’ quality.
When is the CPL 2026 final and where?
The CPL 2026 final is on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados — the first time in tournament history that Barbados has hosted the CPL final. All four playoff matches (Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, Final) are at Kensington Oval.
How many CPL titles have TKR won?
Trinbago Knight Riders have won 5 CPL titles — in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2025 — the most of any franchise in CPL history.
Who is TKR’s head coach in CPL 2026?
Dwayne Bravo is TKR’s head coach. He retired from professional cricket during CPL 2024 after a legendary playing career that included three CPL titles as TKR captain (2015, 2017, 2018). This is his second year as head coach.
Where can I watch TKR matches in CPL 2026 from India?
TKR’s CPL 2026 matches are available for Indian fans via FanCode and Star Sports Network. Most TKR matches kick off at 4:30 AM IST (7:00 PM Caribbean time), so be prepared for early morning viewing.
