No suitable Indian option? Why KKR are yet to replace injured Harshit Rana

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) roped successful Saurabh Dubey for IPL 2026. The 28-year-old left-arm Vidarbha pacer replaces Akash Deep, who has been ruled retired of the season. Dubey was signed by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for IPL 2022 but his stint was chopped abbreviated owed to a backmost injury.Earlier, KKR had besides roped successful Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani successful spot of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman. KKR had initially signed Mustafizur for Rs 9.2 crore arsenic a backup overseas pacer to Rs 18 crore enlistee Matheesha Pathirana, but the Bangladesh left-armer was released pursuing BCCI directives earlier this twelvemonth amid heightened India-Bangladesh tensions.

India pacer Harshit Rana was besides ruled retired past week of the full IPL 2026 owing to the ligament wounded that helium sustained during a warm-up lucifer up of the caller T20 World Cup.

Why haven't KKR asked for Rana's replacement?

While KKR got the replacement of some Mustafizur and Akash Deep, they haven't instrumentality a telephone yet connected a replacement for India’s seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana. The content wrong the franchise is that determination is nary suitable Indian replacement for Rana, who has played for India successful each formats, Cricbuzz reported connected Monday.Since Wednesday, KKR had been organising trials to prime replacements of Rana and Akash Deep, arsenic per a study by quality bureau IANS.

KKR are acceptable to footwear their IPL 2026 run disconnected against the Mumbai Indians connected March 29 astatine the Wankhede Stadium successful Mumbai. The three-time champions volition past look Sunrisers Hyderabad connected April 2 astatine Kolkata's Eden Gardens, earlier facing disconnected against past year's finalists, Punjab Kings, connected April 6, besides astatine Eden Gardens.In their 4th IPL match, KKR volition look Lucknow Super Giants connected April 9 astatine Eden Gardens.