Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Harshit Rana will reportedly miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The right-arm pacer suffered a knee injury during a warm-up match before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He underwent surgery in Mumbai last month and cannot recover in time.
The 24-year-old bowler has been a key player for the squad over the past few years. During the IPL 2025 season, he took 15 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 29.87 and an economy rate of 10.18. The Kolkata-based franchise management must find a suitable replacement from the unsold auction player pool.
Kolkata will open their new campaign against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. They will play their first home game at Eden Gardens against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 2. The team management needs to finalize their bowling lineup before the crucial opening fixtures.
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| Harshit Rana – IPL 2025 Bowling Stats | ||||||||||
| Season | Team | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR |
| IPL 2025 | KKR | 13 | 13 | 264 | 448 | 15 | 3-25 | 29.86 | 10.18 | 17.6 |
3 Pacers Who Could Replace Harshit Rana For Kolkata Knight Riders In IPL 2026
Harshit Rana replacement at KKR: Akash Madhwal
Akash Madhwal can be a frontrunner to replace the injured bowler. The right-arm pacer went completely unsold during the recent mega auction. He made headlines while playing for the Mumbai Indians during the 2023 season, where he delivered a historic bowling performance during the crucial playoff stage.
During the Eliminator match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Madhwal claimed five wickets while conceding just five runs. He proved his ability to bowl under pressure. Last year, he played four games for the Rajasthan Royals and picked up four wickets. He remains a viable death-over bowling option.
Overall, the right-arm fast bowler has taken 23 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 25.65 and an economy rate of 10.06, with best figures of 5/5.
Harshit Rana replacement at KKR: Simarjeet Singh
Simarjeet Singh is another replacement option for the Kolkata franchise. The fast bowler previously represented the Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He went unsold during the recent auction but possesses valuable experience in generating bounce and movement with the new ball during the mandatory powerplay fielding restrictions.
In the tournament, Singh has featured in 14 matches and secured 11 wickets at an average of 36.36 and an economy rate of 10.00. While he struggled with consistency in recent franchise outings, he recently finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the Delhi Premier League, taking 20 wickets in 11 matches.
Harshit Rana replacement at KKR: Chetan Sakariya
Chetan Sakariya brings variety to the bowling attack as a left-arm seam bowler. The Saurashtra pacer initially gained recognition during his stint with the Rajasthan Royals.
Sakariya has played 20 matches so far, picking up 20 wickets. He previously joined the Kolkata Knight Riders squad as an injury replacement player during the last season. He is a reliable candidate to fill the currently vacant spot.
The 28-year-old left-arm pacer has consistently demonstrated his ability to maintain a strict line and length during matches. Like the other mentioned candidates, he failed to attract any bids during the auction. The KKR management will likely evaluate his recent domestic form before making a final decision.
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