KKR's Troubles Mount For IPL 2026 As Another Pacer Goes For A Toss

Umran Malik struggles with form before IPL 2026 [Source: @KkrKaravan/x]

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise has been dealt with yet another major blow to its pace prospects mere weeks prior to the launch of the IPL 2026 season. Umran Malik, who was retained by the franchise late last year, just leaked 59 runs off his two wicketless overs in a DY Patil T20 Cup game for the Tata Sports Club.

The speedster conceded 36 of those runs in a single wayward over, as Mumbai Customs made the most of the cricketer’s struggles with the ball.

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Umran Malik leaking runs left and right before IPL 2026

Playing for Tata Sports Club, injury-prone fast bowler Umran Malik opened the bowling alongside captain Shardul Thakur in his team’s DY Patil T20 Cup match against Mumbai Customs on February 25.

Defending 193 for a win, Shardul started off the innings with a 10-run opening over. The 26-year-old bowled the second over and conceded 23 runs off just six deliveries as Mumbai Customs got off to a flier. Customs’ top-order batter Rugved More bludgeoned one four and three huge sixes to dent Malik’s early spell in the game.

The KKR fast bowler was later brought back to bowl the 13th over of the Mumbai Customs innings. At this juncture, Umran Malik started off with a single and a boundary before his no-ball free-hit was dispatched for a huge maximum. Taking an even more chaotic turn, the speedster sent down a couple of more illegal deliveries whose free-hits were dispatched for big runs.

Before the out-of-favour Indian fast bowler could realise, he was already taken for 36 runs off his second over to finish his two-over spell with dismal figures of 0-59.

Mumbai Customs made the most out of Umran Malik’s wayward bowling as they chased down 193 in just 16 overs. Top-order batter Rugved More blasted a 45-ball century to finish the chase at 101* off 46 balls.

Troubles mount for KKR with Umran Malik’s struggles

Apart from conceding 59 off his two overs against Mumbai Customs, Umran Malik also leaked 41 runs from four overs earlier in the DY Patil T20 Cup game against DY Patil Red. His underwhelming performance raises some serious concerns for the KKR franchise, which is already facing some dearth in its fast-bowling reserves.

Earlier this year, the KKR franchise was instructed by the BCCI to expel Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL 2026 squad citing the nation’s political firestorm. Harshit Rana is still recovering from his knee injury and was ruled out of India squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka paceman Matheesha Pathirana, on the other hand, suffered a muscle strain and was ruled out of the national squad midway into the tournament.

All on the line for young Jammu and Kashmir pacer

Umran Malik was part of the SRH franchise in IPL 2024, but managed to play just one match in the entire season owing to his injury concerns. While he was acquired by KKR for IPL 2025, he was forced to miss the entire tournament to prioritize his recovery from injury.

Last October, the out-of-favour Indian fast bowler returned to Jammu and Kashmir squad for the Ranji Trophy season. He also played a handful of T20 games in SMAT 2025-26.

Desperate to make his return to Team India squad since his last appearance in mid-2023, Malik will surely be eying IPL 2026 as his best shot at redemption.

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