KKR sign Vidarbha pacer as injury replacement of.......
Published - 23 Mar 2026, 10:00 AM | Updated - 23 Mar 2026, 10:07 AM
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
According to a report by Cricbuzz, 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.
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.
It’s a Good Call by the Knight Riders Management - Subroto Banerjee
Speaking to the Press Trust of India, a franchise official confirmed the recent roster movement regarding the vacant fast-bowling position within the KKR squad.
“KKR has decided to rope in Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for Akash Deep,” a KKR source told PTI.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, former India fast bowler and ex-selector Subroto Banerjee praised the strategic acquisition. Banerjee recalled watching Dubey perform exceptionally well during the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup tournament.
“He is a very talented left-arm fast bowler. I remember him touring Bangladesh under Rahul Dravid as part of the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup squad. He gets extra bounce off the wicket and can swing the ball both ways. It’s a good call by the Knight Riders management.”
Who is Saurabh Dubey?
Saurabh Dubey is a left-arm medium-fast bowler who represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket. He has featured in eight List A games and three T20s, along with 16 wickets in eight first-class matches. Despite entering the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a base price of ₹30 lakh, he went unsold.
He was also part of India’s squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Dubey picked up 4 for 26 on his List A debut against Nepal in a seven-wicket win and earned Player of the Match. He ended the tournament with seven wickets in three matches.
His most recent appearance came in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Vidarbha. Prior to that, he had played four matches in the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed franchises that the remainder of the IPL 2026 schedule will be announced within the next three to four days. Notably, the full schedule was delayed due to elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.
Also read: "You win tournaments...": LSG owner leaks Gautam Gambhir's secret advice to win IPL
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Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
