Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Harshit Rana will reportedly miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The right-arm fast bowler suffered a knee injury during a practice match ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He had undergone surgery in Mumbai last month and could not recover on time.
The 24-year-old bowler has been a key player for the team over the past few years. During the IPL 2025 season, he took 15 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 29.87 and an economy rate of 10.18. The Kolkata-based franchise management will have to find a suitable replacement from among the group of unsold auction players.
Kolkata will start their new campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium. They will play their first home match on April 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Gardens. The team management needs to finalize its bowling lineup before the important opening fixtures.
| Harshit Rana – IPL 2025 Bowling Stats | ||||||||||
| Season | Team | mat | Inn | balls | it goes | wickets | B.B.I | average | economy | sr |
| ipl 2025 | KKR | 13 | 13 | 264 | 448 | 15 | 3-25 | 29.86 | 10.18 | 17.6 |
3 fast bowlers who can replace Harshit Rana for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026
Harshit Rana’s place in KKR: Akash Madhwal
Akash Madhwal could be the frontrunner to replace the injured bowler. This right-arm fast bowler remained completely unsold during the recent mega auction. He made headlines while playing for Mumbai Indians during the 2023 season, where he produced historic bowling performances during the crucial playoff stage.
During the eliminator match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Madhwal took five wickets for just five runs. He proved his ability to bowl under pressure. Last year he played four matches for Rajasthan Royals and took four wickets. He remains a viable bowling option in the death overs.
Overall, the right-arm pacer has taken 23 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 25.65 and an economy rate of 10.06, with his best figures being 5/5.
Harshit Rana’s place in KKR: Simarjeet Singh
Simarjeet Singh is another replacement option for the Kolkata franchise. The fast bowler previously represented Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He went unsold during the recent auction, but has valuable experience in generating bounce and movement with the new ball during the mandatory powerplay fielding restrictions.
In the tournament, Singh appeared in 14 matches and took 11 wickets at an average of 36.36 and an economy rate of 10.00. While he has struggled with consistency in recent franchise outings, he finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the recent Delhi Premier League with 20 wickets in 11 matches.
Harshit Rana’s place in KKR: Chetan Sakariya
Chetan Sakariya brings variety to the bowling attack as a left-arm seam bowler. The Saurashtra fast bowler initially gained recognition during his stint with Rajasthan Royals.
Sakaria has played 20 matches so far, in which he has taken 20 wickets. He joined the Kolkata Knight Riders team as an injury replacement player during the last season. He is a credible candidate to fill the current vacancy.
The 28-year-old left-arm fast bowler has consistently demonstrated his ability to maintain a tight line and length during matches. Like the other candidates mentioned, he failed to attract any bids during the auction. The KKR management will likely evaluate his recent domestic form before taking a final decision.
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