Vidarbha’s left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey have brought by Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for the injured Akash Deep for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Due to a stress reaction in lower back of Akash Deep, he was forced out of the upcoming IPL 2026 season. This marks a remarkable opportunity for the 28-year-old Saurabh Dubey, who was previously playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in 2022 before he was temporarily sidelined by a back injury.
In KKR squad, Saurabh Dubey replaces Akash Deep
For fast-bowling unit of KKR, the loss of Akash Deep adds to a growing list of availability concerns. Akash Deep never joined the preparatory camp as he has been undergoing extensive rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. His absence follows the news that after undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear, key pacer Harshit Rana is also ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 tournament.
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Furthermore, high-profile auction buy of KKR, Matheesha Pathirana is expected to miss at least the first half of the IPL 2026 tournament. The Sri Lankan player is still recovering from a calf strain sustained during the T20 World Cup who was acquired for Rs. 18 crore. He is currently awaiting a final fitness clearance and NOC from Sri Lanka cricket. Pathirana might only be match-ready by mid-April, as indicated by Head coach Abhishek Nayar.
KKR is moving quickly to stabilize its roster despite these setbacks. Dubey has now been promoted to the main roster who has been training as a net bowler with the squad at Eden Gardens. Despite going unsold during the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi last year, the 28-year-old left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey has found his way into the KKR squad. As he was part of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP),he remained eligible for selection as a replacement player.
