KKR identify Harshit Rana’s replacement for IPL 2026; Know here
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Harshit Rana has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a knee injury.
Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have suffered a big blow as their crucial pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the tournament. The right-arm pacer is recovering from a knee injury, which he sustained ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 in February.
He was injured in the warm-up clash against South Africa in Navi Mumbai and was subsequently replaced by Mohammed Siraj in the T20 World Cup. Rana also underwent knee surgery in Mumbai, and is expected to need two to three months to return to the field.
Due to Rana’s ouster, KKR’s pace attack has been affected. The three-time champions bought Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in IPL 2026 mini-auction. However, he was released from the squad on the BCCI’s instruction due to a political tensions with Bangladesh. The Ajinkya Rahane & Co. have identified several bowlers as Rana’s replacement, and are expected to announce the replacement soon.
Five bowlers attend trials at camp as KKR look for Harshit Rana’s replacement
According to a report by RevSportz, a group of pacers are undergoing trials at Eden Gardens Stadium in KKR’s camp. Navdeep Saini, Akash Madhwal, Simarjeet Singh, Sandeep Warrier and KM Asif were seen attending the trials on Thursday. Among them, Saini is leading the race due to his ability to deliver bouncers and high speed.
Madhwal, who impressed with his performances for Mumbai Indians (MI) in previous seasons, is also a strong contender. Simarjeet Singh has played for teams like Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past. He accounts for 11 scalps in 14 games.
Warrier and Asif are medium pacers from Kerala. While Warrier has played for KKR in the past, Asif has represented CSK and Rajasthan Royals. He has featured in seven games and picked up seven wickets.
Meanwhile, Matheesha Pathirana regaining his fitness has come as a big boost for KKR. The Sri Lankan pacer has recovered from his calf strain and is expected to join the squad from the second game.
KKR will commence their journey on March 29 with the clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Despite a dismal campaign last season, they have retained Ajinkya Rahane as the captain.
Why has Harshit Rana been ruled out of IPL 2026?
Harshit Rana has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a knee injury.
Who are the probable bowlers to replace Harshit Rana in KKR’s squad?
Navdeep Saini, Akash Madhwal, Simarjeet Singh, Sandeep Warrier and KM Asif are undergoing trials in KKR camp. One of them is expected to replace Rana in KKR’s squad.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.