Kolkata Knight Riders sign a new player a day after being eliminated from IPL 2025

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signed a mystery spinner for their last match in the IPL 2025. MP mystery spinner Shivam Shukla got the opportunity from KKR management.

This was the first mid-season signing for the KKR team in IPL 2025. Their last game washed out against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 17.

Read also: Sourav Ganguly gets involved in BCCI operations again

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Shivam Shukla replaces Rovman Powell

Shivam Shukla replaces the West Indies big-hitter Rovman Powell in the KKR squad. Powell played only two matches this season and only managed to score five runs at a strike-rate of 100.

KKR management announced on May 15 that due to medical reasons, Powell will not travel to India for the remainder of the tournament.

“All KKR Players and Support Staff have arrived in Bangalore, except Rovman Powell & Moeen Ali. Both Powell and Ali couldn’t come back due to medical reasons. Rovman is undergoing a procedure, while Moeen and his family are down with a viral infection. We wish them good health and a quick recovery,” KKR management stated as quoted by the Indian Express.

This is the first big call-up for Shivam after his brilliant performances at the local levels. Shivam was also included in the open-nets practice matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad and he also dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the practice match.

🚨 The mystery spinner from MP is a Knight now!

Shivam Shukla replaces Rovman Powell for the remainder of the #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/usUoOnFzLG

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 18, 2025

Shivam Shukla's performance at club levels

Shivam was the highest wicket-taker in the Madhya Pradesh T20 league. He played for the Rewa Jaguars in the league.

The mystery spinner took 10 wickets in just four matches and showcased his talent in the tournament.

He also played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy representing Madhya Pradesh. Shivam played eight matches for MP and took eight wickets as well.

Kolkata Knight Riders eliminated from IPL 2025

After the washed-out game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium on May 17, Kolkata Knight Riders have been eliminated from the season.

Kolkata Knight Riders became the fourth team after Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad to be eliminated from the IPL 2025.

KKR have been poor in both departments this season as their batting order wasn't decided at all. Kolkata Knight Riders' finishers like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Ramandeep Singh didn't get more balls in any of the matches.

They were heavily relying on their spin attack, but KKR's spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, also didn't perform well in the tournament. The defending champion will now be battling for a mid-table finish in IPL 2025.

KKR's last match of the season is against last year's runner-up Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on May 25.