As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to kick off, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been dealt a significant blow with the news that speedster Umran Malik will be sidelined for the entire tournament due to a lingering injury. In a move to bolster their squad, KKR has announced the signing of left-arm fast bowler Chetan Sakariya as Malik’s replacement.
The Kolkata Knight Riders have chosen Chetan Sakariya to fill the void left by Umran Malik’s injury, which will keep him out of action for the entirety of the 18th season of the IPL. This development was confirmed by the team itself. Sakariya, who has already represented India in international cricket, including one One-Day International (ODI) and two Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, brings a wealth of experience to the table. With 20 wickets under his belt from 19 IPL matches, Sakariya’s skills will undoubtedly be an asset to the KKR squad. The left-arm fast bowler has been signed for Rs 75 lakh.
It’s worth noting that despite his international credentials, Chetan Sakariya went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. However, he was later roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders as a net bowler. In a surprising turn of events, Sakariya has now been promoted to a full-fledged member of the squad, replacing the injured Umran Malik. The IPL 2025 is slated to commence on March 22, with the first match featuring the Kolkata Knight Riders taking on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens. This season, the Knight Riders will be led by Ajinkya Rahane, who will have a new-look squad at his disposal.
The KKR squad boasts an exciting mix of players, including Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy, among others. With the addition of Chetan Sakariya, the team will be looking to make a strong start to the season and make a deep run in the tournament. As the cricketing world gears up for the IPL 2025, all eyes will be on the Kolkata Knight Riders and their new-look squad, which promises to bring excitement and thrills to the fans.
