KKR find replacement for Akash Deep [Source: X]The KKR franchise has found a replacement for Indian fast bowler Akash Deep for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. It is worth noting that Akash recently suffered an injury and was ruled out of the entire tournament. As a replacement for the Bengal veteran, the KKR franchise has now signed uncapped Indian fast bowler Saurabh Dubey. Former SRH star replaces Akash Deep in KKR The KKR franchise has signed up Vidarbha fast bowler Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for Indian Test cricketer Akash Deep for the upcoming IPL 2026 season, as reported by Cricbuzz. Also Read- Virat Kohli's Close Friend Joins KKR Camp Undercover Before IPL 2026Dubey was previously bought by the SRH franchise back in February 2022 for the 2022 edition of the tournament. However, the Vidarbha pacer failed to make it to SRH’s playing XI in the entire season. Who is Saurabh Dubey? Saurabh Dubey, born in Wardha in Maharashtra back in January 1998, is a left-arm fast bowler who plays domestic cricket for Vidarbha. He made his List A debut back in November 2019 for the India Emerging team during the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Bangladesh. To date, Saurabh Dubey has played eight List A matches, including some for Vidarbha, picking up 16 wickets in the process at an impressive bowling average of just 23.31. He has also played a handful of T20 matches for the Vidarbha team, all in October 2023 during the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season. With KKR running low on its fast-bowling reserves, there is a huge possibility that Dubey will finally be able to make his long-awaited IPL debut in the upcoming 2026 season. KKR continues to struggle with injury setbacks Even though the KKR management has managed to rope in a replacement for India star Akash Deep, the franchise is still struggling with several other injury concerns prior to IPL 2026, especially in the team’s pace bowling department. Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana will likely be unavailable for the first phase of the tournament owing to his injury, as advised by SLC. Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the entire season owing to the injury he suffered prior to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Moreover, the KKR franchise was also forced to expel its senior Bangladesh recruit Mustafizur Rahman earlier this year, upon facing some intense scrutiny from nationwide fans owing to the prevailing geo-political conflict between the two countries. All in all, KKR will not be heading into the IPL 2026 season with its first-choice pace bowling attack. KKR to face Mumbai Indians to start off new season As per the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule as released by the BCCI earlier this month, the KKR franchise will be facing Mumbai Indians in their first match of the tournament. The match will be hosted by the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29. Ajinkya Rahane is set to continue as team captain, as confirmed by the franchise a few days ago. Rahane was retained by the franchise alongside several star performers like Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy among others. Also Read- PSL 2026 Updated Schedule Released
