The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed Vidarbha left-arm seamer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement player for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Team India fast bowler Akash Deep has suffered a severe lower-back stress injury and has been ruled out of the entire two-month tournament.
Akash will remain sidelined for at least eight weeks, and his participation in the upcoming Test match against Afghanistan is in serious doubt. It is worth mentioning that Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana has already been ruled out of the tournament. However, the franchise has not announced a replacement for him.
KKR Sign Saurabh Dubey to Replace Akash Deep Ahead of IPL 2026
KKR have signed Saurabh Dubey to restore squad balance amid a major fast-bowling shortage. The 28-year-old previously joined Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2022, but his stint was cut short due to injury.
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Saurabh went unsold at the recent auction despite a modest ₹30 lakh base price. However, the Vidarbha pacer brings crucial left-arm variation to the Kolkata Knight Riders’ attack.
Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana will miss several opening matches, while Blessing Muzarabani recently replaced Mustafizur Rahman following unexpected contract termination issues with the cricket board.
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