Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced their player replacements as the IPL 2025 heads into its final phase.
RCB Signs Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani as Ngidi ReplacementRoyal Challengers Bengaluru have recruited Blessing Muzarabani to replace Lungisani Ngidi, who will leave to join South Africa for national duties. The replacement will be effective May 26, 2025. Muzarabani, the Zimbabwe pacer, has played 70 T20Is and picked 78 wickets. He has also represented Zimbabwe in 12 Tests and 55 ODIs. He will join RCB for INR 75 Lakh.With Ngidi’s departure, it will be the second foreign speedster to leave the Bengaluru side following Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood is still in Australia as he is working on his rehabilitation program to recover from a shoulder niggle.A report in smh.com.au has suggested that the right-arm pacer will complete his rehabilitation in Brisbane next week. He will fly to India before the playoffs. The IPL 2025 league stage ends on May 27, with the playoffs beginning on May 29. So, it might be expected that Hazlewood will only be available if RCB qualify for the playoffs.Josh Hazlewood has been instrumental in RCB’s fantastic campaign in IPL 2025. He is their leading wicket-taker with 18 scalps from 10 games.KKR Brings in Shivam Shukla to Replace Injured Rovman PowellKolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have signed Shivam Shukla as a replacement for Rovman Powell, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a medical issue requiring surgical intervention on his tonsils.