IPL 2019: Kolkata Knight Riders Sign Up KC Cariappa To Replace Shivam Mavi

Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Karnataka spinner KC Cariappa to rope replace injured pace bowler Shivam Mavi. The two-time Indian Premier League winners had already signed up Sandeep Warrier as replacement for another injured pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

Mavi will also miss the upcoming season due to a stress fracture in his back. Mavi is likely to be out of action for at least six months. The right-arm pacer had made his IPL debut last and had gone on to play 9 matches, picking a total of 5 wickets. Nagarkoti, who had missed the last season too, will also miss this season with a back injury.

KC Cariappa is not new to playing in IPL, having played for Kings XI Punjab already. He has so far played 10 IPL games, picking up 8 wickers. In the just-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the spinner played a pivotal role in Karnataka’s title triumph by taking 10 wickets at an average of 20.60.

Sandeep had finished the last season of Ranji Trophy as Kerala’s highest wicket-taker, picking up 44 wickets and helping the team make it to their first-ever semifinal in the competition.

Sandeep also impressed in the ongoing edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he picked up 8 wickets in the first six games including a hat-trick against Andhra. The upcoming season with Knight Riders will not be his first stint in the IPL.

The Knight Riders had done exceedingly well last season despite their talismanic skipper Gautam Gambhir switching to Delhi Capitals. Under new skipper Karthik and with a team full of youngsters, they had gone on to beat all the odds and make it to the playoffs.  Their journey had ended in the second Qualifier after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Knight Riders will start their IPL 2019 campaign with a clash versus the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on March 24.