KKR's fast bowling woes deepen: Akash Deep out of IPL 2026
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on March 28, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have suffered a setback. Fast bowler Akash Deep has been ruled out for the entire season.
KKR had added Akash Deep for Rs 1 crore in the mini-auction last year, but Akash Deep has been dropped from the team at a time when the team's fast bowling unit is already struggling with injuries.
A franchise official confirmed Akash Deep's exit to IANS on Saturday, saying, "Yes, Akash Deep is out of the upcoming IPL season. He hasn't left for rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru yet, but it's certain that he won't be available for the season."
The Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their new season on March 29th against five-time champions Mumbai Indians. The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. KKR's pre-season camp began on March 18th, and Akash Deep did not participate in it, nor was he seen in the intra-squad practice match played at Eden Gardens on Friday evening.
According to information received by IANS, it is believed that Akash Deep suffered a left heel injury while playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semi-final match against Jammu and Kashmir at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani between February 15 and 18.
Akash Deep's exclusion has further increased KKR's pace bowling concerns. India's fast bowling all-rounder Harshith Rana is already out after undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear, while Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana is awaiting clearance from his board following his injury. He also missed much of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup due to a shoulder injury. KKR's fast bowling squad includes Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Blessing Muzarabani, and Kartik Tyagi, while Cameron Green and Ramandeep Singh are the all-round fast bowling options.
KKR is searching for new players in the fast bowling department by holding trials at Eden Gardens. Players like Navdeep Saini, Akash Madhwal, Simarjeet Singh, Sandeep Warrier, KM Asif, and Sunil Kumar are participating in the trials to fill the void left by injuries to Rana and now Akash Deep.