Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have brought in Vidarbha’s left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for the injured Akash Deep for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The Indian seamer was forced out of the upcoming IPL 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his lower back. This marks a significant opportunity for the 28-year-old Dubey, who was previously part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in 2022 before his own career was temporarily sidelined by a back injury.
Saurabh Dubey replaces Akash Deep in KKR squad
The loss of Akash Deep adds to a growing list of availability concerns for KKR's fast-bowling unit. Deep has been undergoing extensive rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and never joined the team's preparatory camp. His absence follows the news that key pacer Harshit Rana is also ruled out of the entire tournament after undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear.
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Furthermore, KKR’s high-profile auction buy, Matheesha Pathirana, is expected to miss at least the first half of the season. The Sri Lankan slinger, acquired for ₹18 crore, is still recovering from a calf strain sustained during the T20 World Cup and is currently awaiting a final fitness clearance and NOC from Sri Lanka Cricket. Head coach Abhishek Nayar indicated that Pathirana might only be match-ready by mid-April.
Despite these setbacks, the team is moving quickly to stabilise its roster. Dubey, who has been training as a net bowler with the squad at Eden Gardens, has now been promoted to the main roster. With the season set to begin on March 28, KKR is also reportedly evaluating other experienced domestic options like Umran Malik and Navdeep Saini to bolster their depleted pace attack.
Saurabh Dubey, the 28-year-old left-arm pacer, has found his way into the KKR squad despite going unsold during the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi last year. Because he was part of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), he remained eligible for selection as a replacement player, allowing KKR to secure his services following the injury to Akash Deep.
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Saurabh Dubey's solid domestic numbers
Dubey brings a solid domestic pedigree to the side, having represented Vidarbha in eight List A and three T20 matches. His talent was recognized early on when he was selected for the India A squad during the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup under the guidance of Sitanshu Kotak. Additionally, his progress has been monitored by former national selector and pacer Subroto Banerjee, further validating his potential at the higher level.
While Dubey has filled one vacancy, KKR's management is still weighing options to replace star all-rounder Harshit Rana. Rana was officially ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear in February.
KKR are set to begin their campaign with a high-stakes away game against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on March 29. They will then return to the iconic Eden Gardens for their home opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 2, followed by a string of home fixtures against Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants on April 6 and 9.