Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have moved quickly to deal with their growing injury concerns, and IPL 2026 Vidarbha fast bowler Saurabh Dubey has been included as a replacement for Akash Deep. The 28-year-old left-arm fast bowler, who was training with the team as a net bowler, has now been promoted to the main team, days before the start of the season.
The name Dubey may not be a familiar one in the IPL yet, but he comes with potential and also has the advantage of being a part of the KKR setup during the pre-season. His inclusion provides the team with a much-needed option in their weak fast bowling department.
Akash Deep out of IPL 2026 due to lower back injury
Meanwhile, Akash Deep has been ruled out due to a stress reaction in his lower back – an injury that usually takes several weeks to heal. The Bengal fast bowler picked up the problem during a Ranji Trophy match earlier this year and has since been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. He did not attend KKR’s pre-season camp, with the franchise facing a shortage of domestic fast bowling resources.
Dubey’s rise to this opportunity has not been straightforward. He was previously a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad in IPL 2022, but injuries cut that stint short. After going unsold in the IPL 2026 mini auction, he remained in the pool of available players, waiting for a chance – and now, that chance has arrived.
“He is a very talented left-arm fast bowler. He gets extra bounce off the wicket and can swing the ball in both directions. It is a good decision by the Knight Riders management,” Subroto Banerjee said while highlighting Dubey’s strengths.
A KKR official also confirmed that Dubey was already impressing in the training sessions. “Dubey was a net bowler for KKR and he was practicing with them at Eden Gardens and their camp in Mumbai, but now he will be in the main squad,” The officer said.
Injury concerns rise but KKR remain optimistic
Although Dubey’s inclusion provides some relief, KKR’s injury list remains a major concern. Akash Deep is not the only fast bowler who is absent – young fast bowler Harshit Rana has also been ruled out after undergoing knee surgery. His absence, coupled with Deep’s injury, leaves a significant gap in the team’s bowling plans.
Adding to the challenge, key signing Matheesha Pathirana is also unavailable for the opening matches as he recovers from a calf muscle injury. His return is only expected around mid-April, meaning KKR will have to sail through the initial stages of the tournament without their key overseas fast bowler.
The franchise has already made other adjustments, including first bringing in Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, but the constant changes have forced the management to re-think its bowling combinations.
Despite these obstacles, mentor Dwayne Bravo is confident in the team’s depth and ability to adapt.
“The good thing about Indian cricket, especially at the moment, is that it has a lot of depth. There are young, exciting talents like Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora,” Bravo said.
KKR begins its IPL 2026 journey Mumbai Indians (MI) against on 29th March at Wankhede Stadium. With a restructured bowling attack and a mix of experienced players and new faces, the team will have to test its stamina early.
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