KKR Makes a Big Announcement    (KKR ) 

IPL: The 2026 IPL season is set to kick off in six days—specifically on March 28th. Ahead of the start of the 19th season, the Kolkata Knight Riders      (KKR )   franchise is grappling with several challenges. Two of the team’s fast bowlers, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries. Amidst this situation, the franchise has announced a replacement for Akash Deep; they have brought in fast bowler Saurabh Dubey to take his spot.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, KKR decided to induct Saurabh Dubey into the squad following Akash Deep’s withdrawal. The 28-year-old left-arm fast bowler, Dubey, plays for Vidarbha in domestic cricket. He was previously part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad but has yet to make his debut in the IPL.

Subroto Banerjee Issues a Major Statement Regarding Saurabh Dubey
Following Dubey’s inclusion in the squad, Subroto Banerjee remarked that he is an exceptionally talented left-arm fast bowler. “I recall when he toured Bangladesh in 2019 for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid,” Banerjee said. “Dubey is an excellent bowler capable of swinging the ball in both directions. This is a sound decision by the Knight Riders management.” He noted that he has kept a close watch on Dubey’s game—both in Nagpur and during his tenure as a national selector.

KKR Still Searching for a Replacement for Harshit Rana
An official from the Kolkata Knight Riders confirmed Dubey’s induction into the squad. The official also revealed that the franchise has not yet reached a decision regarding a replacement for Harshit Rana. Harshit Rana, too, has been ruled out of this season. KKR is currently on the hunt for a perfect replacement for Harshit—a search that, as of now, remains unfulfilled. For this very reason, they have not selected anyone yet.

**Dubey Remained Unsold in the Mini-Auction**
Dubey went unsold in the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi last December. His name was listed at number 1215 in the ‘Registered Available Player Pool’ (RAPP), and his base price was ₹30 lakh. According to IPL regulations, a player must be part of the RAPP to be eligible for selection as a replacement. SRH had previously signed Dubey in 2022, but his stint was cut short due to an injury. He was unable to make his debut that season. To date, Dubey has played 8 List A and 3 T20 matches.