New Delhi: Kolkata Knight have identified former Chennai Super Kings seamers Simarjeet Singh, KM Asif and veteran Sandeep Warrier as potential replacements for the injured Harshit Rana at the 2026 Indian Premier League.
India seamer Rana is recuperating from a ligament strain in the right knee suffered during a T20 World Cup warm-up game against South Africa.
The right armer underwent surgery and is undergoing rehab, with no fixed time line on his return, KKR is now exploring options for a suitable replacement.
Asif and Warrier attended trials in KKR’s first training session at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, while Simarjeet was called up during their first phase of trials in Mumbai conducted under the supervision of head of scouting Biju George and deputy Manvinder Bisla.
Simarjeet has 11 wickets in 14 IPL matches for CSK and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He came into the limelight with nine wickets in 10 matches for CSK in 2022 but managed only two wickets in four matches for SRH last year.
Warrier, 34, has represented KKR for three seasons and had a stint with Gujarat Titans for a haul of eight wickets in 10 matches.
Asif claimed a career-best 5/24 against Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy but has often been crippled with niggling injuries.
KKR have also brought in Zimbabwean Blessing Muzarabani, who was the T20 World Cup’s joint second-highest wicket-taker with 13 dismissals as replacement for Mustafizur Rahman after the Bangladeshi was released following a BCCI directive.
Pathirana awaits clearance
Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana is yet to receive permission from his country’s cricket board to play for KKR after being bought for Rs 18 crore.
He has recovered from a calf strain picked up in Sri Lanka’s the T20 World Cup game against Australia that forced him to limp off after bowling four overs.
“They are yet to confirm about his joining. We are in constant touch and almost every day tickets are being booked and cancelled for him,” a team source told PTI.
Three-time champions KKR finished eighth last season and began training under head coach Abhishek Nayar, his assistant Shane Watson, bowling coach Tim Southee and mentor Dwayne Bravo, with his fellow West India Andre Russell being appointed as the power coach.
The team’s New Zealand trio of Finn Allen (Rs 2 crore), Tim Seifert (Rs 1.5 crore) and Rachin Ravindra (Rs 2 crore) will join on Thursday alongwith India spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green (Rs 25.20 crore) will arrive on Friday with the West Indies contingent of Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell and Russell will join on March 24.
KKR will begin their campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29 and will host Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first home game on April 2.