KKR Replaces Injured Umran Malik with Chetan Sakariya

With just a week left before the start of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have suffered a setback. Their star pacer Umran Malik has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury. KKR had signed Umran for ₹75 lakh, but now they have brought in Chetan Sakariya as his replacement.

Sakariya was initially with KKR as a net bowler, but following Umran Malik’s injury, he has been added to the main squad. Currently, Umran is undergoing treatment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. KKR had hoped he would recover in time to play by mid-April, but given the current state of his injury, the team management decided not to take any risks and brought in Sakariya instead.

Despite being known for his express pace, Umran has struggled with injuries, which have kept him from securing a consistent spot in the national team. He has also missed several domestic matches due to recurring fitness issues. Even before joining KKR, there were doubts about his availability for IPL due to his injury concerns. Now, with Umran sidelined, Sakariya has the opportunity to step up for KKR.

Chetan Sakariya has represented India in one ODI and two T20Is. In the IPL, he has taken 20 wickets in 19 matches. KKR signed him for ₹75 lakh and hopes he will make a valuable contribution to the squad.