IPL 2026: Three-time IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Vidharbha's pacer Saurabh Dubey as the injured Akash Deep's replacement, who has pulled out from the upcoming season owing to a lower back stress injury. Dubey was also a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad during IPL 2022, but his time there was cut short owing 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," a franchise official was quoted as saying to IANS.
Dubey hasn't made his IPL debut yet, and he also went unsold at the mini-auction last year. But since he entered his name in the auction, he became part of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), where all 10 teams can choose replacements for injured players.
He had represented Vidharbha in eight List A and three T20 matches. He was also part of the India A team for the 2019 ACC Emerging Team Asia Cup. Sitanshu Kotak, the current batting coach of the Indian team, was their head coach for that tournament. Ex-India fast bowler Subroto Bannerjee also kept a close watch on Dubey as his tenure as national selector ended last year.
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It should be noted that the Kolkata-based franchise hasn't announced the replacement for India's star fast bowler Harshit Rana. He has been ruled out for the upcoming season as he underwent surgery on his knee earlier this year. KKR held trials earlier this week to select replacements for both Rana and Akash Deep.
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The Ajinkya Rahane-led side will face the Mumbai Indians in their tournament opener in Mumbai on 29th March. Next month, they will play against SRH on their home ground. Then they face the Punjab Kings and LSG on April 6th and 9th.