NewKerala.com

KKR Signs Saurabh Dubey as Injury Replacement for Akash Deep in IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for the injured India pacer Akash Deep, who is out with a back stress reaction. Dubey, previously a net bowler for KKR, is yet to make his IPL debut after going unsold in the last auction. The franchise is still evaluating a replacement for the also-injured seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana. KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29.

Key Points: KKR Ropes In Saurabh Dubey as Akash Deep's IPL 2026 Replacement

  • Dubey replaces injured Akash Deep
  • Was a KKR net bowler previously
  • Yet to make IPL debut
  • Replacement for Harshit Rana still pending
  • KKR's season begins March 29 vs MI
2 min read

IPL 2026: KKR rope in Saurabh Dubey as replacement for injured Akash Deep

Kolkata Knight Riders sign Vidarbha pacer Saurabh Dubey to replace injured Akash Deep for IPL 2026 season. Get the latest squad update.

"Yes, Saurabh Dubey has been signed by KKR as a replacement for Akash Deep for the upcoming season. - Franchise Official"

Kolkata, March 22

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Vidarbha's tall, left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for injured India pacer Akash Deep, who was ruled out of the competition due to a stress reaction in his lower back.

Dubey was signed by 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for IPL 2022 but his stint was cut short due to a back injury. "Yes, Saurabh Dubey has been signed by KKR as a replacement for Akash Deep for the upcoming season. Dubey was a net bowler for KKR and was practising with them at Eden Gardens and in their camp in Mumbai, but he will now be in the main squad," said a franchise official to IANS on Sunday.

Dubey, 28, is yet to make his IPL debut and had gone unsold at the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi last year. But since he had registered for the auction, Dubey became a part of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), from where any of the ten franchises can pick replacements for their injured players.

Dubey, who has played eight List A games and three T20 matches for Vidarbha, was a member of the India A team in the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where current India men's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was the side's head coach. Dubey had also been tracked by former India pacer Subroto Banerjee, whose term as a national selector ended last year.

It is understood that the franchise is yet to take a call on a replacement for India's seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana, who is also ruled out of the season after undergoing a surgery for a meniscus tear in his right knee in February. Since Wednesday, KKR had been organising trials to select replacements of Rana and Akash Deep.

KKR, led by veteran India opener Ajinkya Rahane, will open their IPL 2026 campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29. Their first home match will be against SRH at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 2, before hosting Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants for home clashes on April 6 and 9 respectively.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Another season, another injury crisis for KKR's pace battery! First Harshit Rana, now Akash Deep. The back injury history with Dubey is a bit concerning though. Hope the medical team has done their due diligence. We need a fit squad to challenge for the title.
R
Rohit P
Good luck to Saurabh Dubey! From Vidarbha to the big stage of Eden Gardens. It's the classic IPL story – an unsold player getting his chance due to an injury. Hope he grabs it with both hands. Purple Brigade needs some firepower!
S
Sarah B
Interesting move. He's 28 and hasn't played an IPL match yet, but has some domestic and India A experience. The fact that he was tracked by a former national selector like Subroto Banerjee says something about his potential. Let's see what he brings.
V
Vikram M
The bigger worry is Harshit Rana's replacement. He was a key player for us last season with both bat and ball. Just signing a pure bowler for Akash Deep is fine, but we need a proper all-rounder to fill Rana's shoes. The management needs to act fast.
K
Karthik V
Best of luck to the new knight! 🏏 The season opener against MI at Wankhede is a massive test. Hope the team gels quickly despite these last-minute changes. Rahane's calm leadership will be crucial.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50