IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad Name Replacements For Akash Deep, Jack Edwards Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad have announced Saurabh Dubey and David Payne as replacements for injured players Akash Deep and Jack Edwards ahead of the IPL 2026 tournament, which begins on March 28. Akash Deep, an Indian pacer, has been ruled out due to a lumbar stress injury and will remain under the care of the BCCI medical team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Saurabh Dubey, a 28-year-old left-arm pacer from Vidarbha, will join KKR for Rs 30 lakh. He previously played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past season but has not yet made his IPL debut. Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed England fast bowler David Payne to replace Jack Edwards, who is sidelined with a foot injury. Edwards had been acquired by SRH for Rs 3 crore during a bidding process against Chennai Super Kings. Payne’s inclusion marks SRH’s strategy to address their bowling depth amid the absence of Edwards. The replacements are set to bolster the teams’ squads as the tournament kicks off with matches in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Guwahati. The decisions come as the IPL 2026 schedule unfolds, with the first match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad scheduled for March 28. The tournament’s opening phase will feature high-profile clashes, and the replacements for Deep and Edwards are expected to play key roles in their respective teams’ campaigns. Both players will undergo fitness assessments to ensure they are ready for the demands of the competition. The BCCI’s focus on player welfare is evident in the management of Deep’s injury, with the medical team providing ongoing support.#ipl_2026 #kolkata_knight_riders #sunrisers_hyderabad #saurabh_dubey #david_payne
Kolkata Knight Riders to Replace Injured Akash Deep with Saurabh Dubey Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have confirmed that Saurabh Dubey will replace the injured Akash Deep in their squad for the IPL 2026 season. The decision was announced by KKR CEO Venky Mysore during an intra-squad practice match in Kolkata. Dubey, a left-arm seamer from Vidarbha, will step into the role left vacant by Deep, who is sidelined due to a lower-back injury. Dubey, 28, has yet to make an IPL appearance and has played only 11 senior-level matches in domestic cricket. He last represented Vidarbha in a T20 match in October 2023, having been absent from competitive cricket for nearly two-and-a-half years. However, his performances in the Vidarbha Pro T20 League last year, particularly for the Orange Tigers, caught the attention of teams. In 2022, he was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) but his season was cut short by an injury. Dubey has also been a net bowler for Mumbai Indians. His cricketing journey includes a standout performance in 2019 when he was the leading wicket-taker for India in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. KKR’s head coach, Abhishek Nayar, and his staff have been actively scouting for replacements for Deep and Harshit Rana, with Dubey emerging as the preferred option. During trials conducted during KKR’s IPL training camp in Kolkata, Dubey impressed the coaching staff, leading to his inclusion in the squad. Other bowlers who participated in the trials included Navdeep Saini, KM Asif, Simarjeet Singh, Akash Madhwal, and Sandeep Warrier. Mysore highlighted the efforts of Nayar in assembling potential candidates for the coaches to evaluate. “The one who has caught everyone’s eyes is Saurabh Dubey, Vidarbha’s left-arm seamer,” Mysore said.#kolkata_knight_riders #vidarbha #abhishek_nayar #saurabh_dubey #venky_mysore
Kolkata Knight Riders' injury woes escalate as fast bowler Akash Deep is sidelined for the entire IPL 2026 season due to a lumbar stress injury. The news comes as the team continues to grapple with a string of setbacks, with Deep's absence adding to their challenges ahead of the tournament. The 28-year-old pacer, who has not featured in any competitive cricket matches since 2025, has been ruled out for the season by medical experts. His injury, which affects the lower back, is expected to require prolonged recovery time, leaving the franchise to seek a replacement for the crucial role he played in their bowling attack. In response to the setback, KKR has signed Saurabh Dubey as a temporary replacement. Dubey, a right-arm fast bowler, will now join the squad to bolster their pace department. The move underscores the team's efforts to mitigate the impact of Deep's absence, though the loss of a key player with his experience and pace could be felt during the tournament. The injury crisis has raised concerns about the team's depth and preparedness for the demanding IPL schedule. With multiple players already sidelined, KKR faces the challenge of adapting their strategy and maintaining competitiveness in a highly competitive league. The situation highlights the physical toll of professional cricket and the importance of injury management in high-stakes competitions. As the IPL 2026 approaches, the focus will now shift to how KKR can navigate these challenges and whether Dubey can step into Deep's shoes effectively. The team's ability to manage this transition will be critical in determining their prospects in the tournament.#ipl_2026 #kolkata_knight_riders #kkr #akash_deep #saurabh_dubey
IPL 2026: KKR, SRH Announce 2 New Replacement Signings Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have confirmed the addition of two new players to their squads as replacements for injured cricketers. Three-time champions KKR have signed left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey to replace India pacer Akash Deep, who is sidelined due to a lumbar stress injury. Meanwhile, England all-rounder David Payne has joined SRH as a replacement for the injured Australian player Jack Edwards. Akash Deep, a right-arm pacer with 10 Test caps and 28 wickets to his name, has been ruled out of IPL 2026 and will receive treatment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His absence has been addressed by the inclusion of Saurabh Dubey, a left-arm fast bowler who will join KKR for an undisclosed fee of INR 30 lakh. Dubey, who was previously signed by SRH for IPL 2022 but was cut short due to a back injury, has not yet made his IPL debut. He was part of the India A team in the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup and has participated in eight List A matches and three T20 games for Vidarbha. David Payne, who has represented England in a single ODI, will join SRH for Rs 1.5 crore. The 31-year-old has accumulated 233 T20 matches and 304 wickets in the format, though his international career remains limited. Payne’s inclusion comes as a replacement for Jack Edwards, who is unavailable due to injury. SRH’s squad will face the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener on March 28, while KKR will take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. Dubey’s return to the IPL was facilitated by his participation in the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), which allows franchises to select players who registered for the auction but were not sold.#kolkata_knight_riders #sunrisers_hyderabad #saurabh_dubey #david_payne #jack_edwards
Kolkata Knight Riders to Replace Akash Deep with Saurabh Dubey for IPL 2026 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have confirmed that left-arm seamer Saurabh Dubey will replace the injured Akash Deep in their squad for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The decision was announced by KKR CEO Venky Mysore during an intra-squad practice session in Kolkata, following trials conducted during the team’s training camp. Dubey, who has not played competitive cricket in nearly two-and-a-half years, will join the squad as a replacement for Deep, who is ruled out due to a lower-back injury. Dubey, 28, is an uncapped IPL player who has represented Vidarbha in senior cricket, logging just 11 first-class matches. His last competitive appearance came in a T20 game for Vidarbha in October 2023. However, he made a strong impression in the Vidarbha Pro T20 League in 2022, where he was part of the Orange Tigers squad. Despite being purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2022, his season was cut short by injury. He has also been a net bowler for Mumbai Indians. Dubey’s inclusion comes after KKR’s coaching staff identified him as a key replacement for Deep. Head coach Abhishek Nayar praised the team’s efforts in bringing potential candidates to the training camp, highlighting Dubey’s standout performance. “The one who has caught everyone’s eyes is Saurabh Dubey, Vidarbha left-arm seamer, tall,” Mysore noted. The coaches expressed enthusiasm about Dubey’s potential to fill the void left by Deep’s injury. The team is also managing the absence of Matheesha Pathirana, who will miss the early part of the IPL due to an injury sustained in the T20 World Cup. Mysore emphasized that the club is in constant communication with Pathirana and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, ensuring the player’s recovery takes priority.#kolkata_knight_riders #vidarbha #abhishek_nayar #saurabh_dubey #venky_mysore
Saurabh Dubey Joins KKR as Replacement for Akash Deep in IPL 2026 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced the inclusion of Saurabh Dubey in their squad for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) as a replacement for injured fast bowler Akash Deep. Dubey, who was left out of the IPL 2025 auction, is set to bolster KKR’s pace attack after the team faced challenges with injuries and form issues in the previous season. Dubey, a 26-year-old left-arm fast bowler, has not played a single match in the IPL so far. Despite his potential, he was not selected in the 2025 auction, which raised questions about his readiness for the tournament. However, KKR’s decision to bring him on board for 2026 suggests confidence in his ability to contribute to the team’s bowling department. The team’s pace attack has been under scrutiny, with key players like Harshit Rana and Akash Deep missing due to injuries. Additionally, Mathisa Pathirana is unavailable for early matches, further straining KKR’s options. Dubey’s inclusion aims to address these gaps and provide depth to the bowling unit. Dubey’s career has seen mixed results in domestic cricket, but his performances in List-A matches have shown promise. In 2025, he took 15 wickets in 10 games for Punjab Kings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, highlighting his ability to bowl in pressure situations. KKR’s management believes his experience and pace could be a valuable asset in the high-stakes IPL environment. The team’s struggles in IPL 2025, where they managed only five wins in 14 matches, have prompted a strategic overhaul. The addition of overseas stars like Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Cameron Green has strengthened KKR’s batting lineup, but the bowling department remains a priority.#ipl_2026 #kolkata_knight_riders #punjab_kings #akash_deep #saurabh_dubey
Kolkata Knight Riders Select Saurabh Dubey as Akash Deep Replacement Kolkata Knight Riders have confirmed the signing of left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, replacing Akash Deep, who has been ruled out of the tournament. The 28-year-old pacer, who previously played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, will join the franchise ahead of the season’s start on March 28. Dubey’s inclusion comes after he was left unsold at the Abu Dhabi mini-auction in December 2025 and was listed at No. 1215 in the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) with a base price of INR 30 lakh. Dubey’s recruitment was confirmed by a KKR official, who noted that the franchise has not yet decided on a replacement for Harshit Rana, another player ruled out for the season. Rana, who has represented India in all formats, is also absent, and the franchise has expressed difficulty finding a suitable Indian replacement for him. Dubey, who was signed by SRH in 2022 but missed most of the season due to injury, has not made his IPL debut yet. The decision to bring in Dubey was praised by Subroto Banerjee, a national selector and cricket analyst, who highlighted Dubey’s potential. Banerjee recalled Dubey’s participation in the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup under Rahul Dravid and described him as a “very talented left-arm fast bowler” capable of generating extra bounce and swinging the ball both ways. Banerjee also mentioned that Dubey has already joined the KKR camp in Kolkata, indicating his readiness for the season. Dubey’s most recent domestic appearances were with Vidarbha in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy. His inclusion in the IPL squad underscores KKR’s strategy to bolster their bowling options ahead of the tournament.#ipl_2026 #kolkata_knight_riders #saurabh_dubey #akkash_deep #board_of_control_for_cricket_in_india
