Kolkata Knight Riders are looking for a fast bowler to replace Mustafizur Rahman ahead of IPL 2026. One of the names being discussed is Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani.
With the tournament approaching, KKR are trying to strengthen their bowling attack. Injuries to some fast bowlers have increased the need for a new pace option in the squad.
Why KKR Need a New Fast Bowler
Mustafizur Rahman was released from the KKR squad in January after a decision from the BCCI. With the season starting soon, the franchise has not yet confirmed a replacement.
KKR are also facing injury issues in their pace department. Two of their fast bowlers are currently unavailable.
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman | Released from squad |
| Harshit Rana | Injured |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Injured |
Because of these setbacks, KKR are searching for a reliable fast bowler who can strengthen the bowling unit.
Blessing Muzarabani Among Potential Options
Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani has emerged as one of the possible replacements for Mustafizur Rahman.
The tall pacer has previous connections with IPL teams. He worked as a net bowler for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and also replaced Lungi Ngidi temporarily for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the past.
Recent activity on social media has also sparked speculation. Muzarabani has followed KKR and Andre Russell online, which has added to rumors about a possible move.
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PSL Contract Could Be a Challenge
Muzarabani has already signed with Islamabad United for PSL 2026. He joined the team as a replacement for Shamar Joseph during the T20 World Cup period.
| League | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| PSL 2026 | Islamabad United | Signed |
| IPL 2026 | KKR | Possible interest |
If KKR offer him a contract, he may have to withdraw from the PSL. However, leaving a PSL team early can lead to penalties.
Last season, Corbin Bosch left the PSL to join Mumbai Indians in the IPL and later received a fine and a one-year PSL ban.
Because of this precedent, Muzarabani could face a similar situation if he switches leagues.
KKR Squad for IPL 2026
| Players |
|---|
| Ajinkya Rahane |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi |
| Anukul Roy |
| Harshit Rana |
| Manish Pandey |
| Ramandeep Singh |
| Rinku Singh |
| Rovman Powell |
| Sunil Narine |
| Umran Malik |
| Vaibhav Arora |
| Varun Chakaravarthy |
| Cameron Green |
| Matheesha Pathirana |
| Tejasvi Singh |
| Finn Allen |
| Karthik Tyagi |
| Prashant Solanki |
| Tim Seifert |
| Rahul Tripathi |
| Daksh Kamra |
| Rachin Ravindra |
| Akash Deep |
| Sarthak Ranjan |
KKR are expected to finalize their squad soon as the tournament approaches.
KKR have not yet confirmed a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. However, reports suggest that Blessing Muzarabani is one of the players being considered.
If the deal happens, the Zimbabwe fast bowler could add pace and bounce to KKR’s bowling attack.
Fans will be watching closely in the coming days as franchises finalize their squads for IPL 2026.
