Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has faced initial hurdles in preparation for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026As newly acquired bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman It is certain to miss the opening week of the tournament. During the recent auction in Abu Dhabi, KKR acquired the left-arm fast bowler for a career-high ₹9.20 crore after a tough bidding war. Chennai Super Kings And Delhi Capitals,
Know here for how many days KKR fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman will be out of IPL 2026
However as per Cricbuzz report, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have confirmed that although the ‘Fiz’ have been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the league, they will have to return to national duty for an eight-day window to take part in a crucial ODI series. new zealandThis temporary absence is motivated by Bangladesh’s desperate bid to break into the top eight of the ICC rankings and gain direct qualification for the event, one day world cup 2027,
temporary loss of Mustafizur Rahman Creates a specific tactical challenge for KKR, as the left-arm seamer was bought specifically to provide the variety and death-bowling expertise that was introduced earlier. Mitchell StarcWith the IPL 2026 season rumored to begin on March 26, Mustafizur will be absent for the first few matches to lead Bangladesh’s attack against the Kiwis, To mitigate this, KKR will rely heavily on their other marquee pace signings, Mathisha PathiranaHe was signed for ₹18 crore to lead the overseas fast bowling contingent along with Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora.
KKR team depth, including cameron green And sky lampProvides some insurance, but the unique “cutters” and angles that Mustafizur brings to the Eden Garden surface will be missed during the early stages of the competition.
BCB’s chairman of cricket operations, Nazmul Abedin, stressed that the decision could not be compromised given the high stakes of the New Zealand series,
“We have given NOC to Mustafizur for the entire IPL. He will return to play for the national team only during the New Zealand ODI series, which will consist of three matches. He will return for eight days to play the ODI series.” Nazmul said.
Nazmul said that the competitive environment in the IPL will help him perform well in the ODI against New Zealand.
“One thing is that yes, he will be in a T20 environment and coming back to play ODIs, we can say that there can be a transition period. Also, the level at which he will play and the competitive environment he will be in, it can also allow him to contribute more after his return. So we considered all the pros and cons and felt that his presence is important for us. With our current strength, his presence makes the team stronger and that is the idea behind this decision.” Nazmul concluded.
₹9.20 crore gamble: Mustafizur’s value in KKR bowling cartel
Despite the brief unavailability, KKR’s ₹9.20 crore investment in Mustafizur Rahman highlights his development as one of the most sought-after T20 specialists in the world. Having previously represented CSK and Delhi, Mustafizur’s familiarity with Indian conditions makes him a lethal asset, especially as a replacement for Andre Russell bowling overs.
KKR entered the auction with a massive purse of ₹64.30 crore and preferred to build a bowling cartel in it Varun Chakraborty, Sunil Narine And expensive green. The inclusion of Mustafizur was the final piece of this puzzle, aimed at providing left-arm variety that complicates matchups for opposition top orders.
While the first eight days will require tactical tweaks, KKR are confident that the long-term value of the “fizz” in the remaining two months of the tournament justifies the higher price tag and short-term inconvenience. The team’s ability to deal with this early season absence will be the first big test for the management.