Saurabh Dubey : Just ahead of IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders have been dealt another blow as fast bowler Akash Deep has been ruled out of the upcoming season. According to reports, the franchise has acted quickly to find a replacement.
Saurabh Dubey Gets His Opportunity
KKR have brought in left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for Akash Deep. Dubey, who has previously been associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad, now gets a fresh opportunity to make his mark in the league.
IPL Journey So Far
Dubey was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2022 auction for ₹20 lakh. However, he did not get a chance to feature in any matches during that season. In the IPL 2026 auction, he had set his base price at ₹30 lakh but went unsold.
Interestingly, reports suggest that Dubey had already been training with the KKR squad before being officially signed.
Strong Domestic Record
The left-arm pacer represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket and has shown promise with his performances. In List-A cricket, Dubey has played 8 matches and picked up 16 wickets. He has also featured in 3 T20 matches so far.
Impressive Performance in Emerging Asia Cup
Dubey was part of the Indian squad in the ACC Emerging Asia Cup 2019, where he delivered a standout performance. On his List-A debut against Nepal, he claimed four wickets while conceding just 26 runs.
He finished the tournament with 7 wickets and was named Player of the Tournament, highlighting his potential at the international level.
A Fresh Chance with KKR
With Akash Deep sidelined, Dubey now has a golden opportunity to finally make his IPL debut. KKR will be hoping that the young pacer can step up and strengthen their bowling attack in the upcoming season.