Left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya has replaced Umran Malik, who missed IPL 2025, for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Since playing just one game for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024, Malik, 25, has not participated in a competitive match. Sakariya is recovering from his own injuries. In February 2024, he played his final representative match at the Ranji Trophy.
Malik, a true fast who can reach speeds of up to 150 kph, made his debut in 2021 but has since struggled with illnesses and injuries. A dengue attack forced him to miss the start of the domestic 2024–25 season, when he was ready to compete in the Duleep Trophy. Then he fractured his hip.
Malik has taken 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.48 in his eight T20I appearances. Sakariya has participated in two Twenty20 Internationals and claimed one wicket at an economy rate of 9.27.
Sakariya may replace KKR’s first-choice left-arm fast bowler, Spencer Johnson. Due to Malik’s injury-forced absence, KKR now lacks a comparable Indian alternative for Anrich Nortje, who is also prone to injuries.
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