Kolkata Knight Riders’ Harshit Rana Set to Miss Majority of IPL 2026 After Knee Surgery
Injury Blow for KKR as Indian Speedster Undergoes Rehab; Squad Adjustments Continue Ahead of Season
New Delhi – Harshit Rana, India and Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler, is expected to miss a significant portion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season after undergoing knee surgery in February, according to reports.
The right arm pacer sustained a ligament strain during a warm-up fixture against South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, pulling up after bowling just one over. He was subsequently replaced in the main tournament by Mohammed Siraj.
Rana is currently undergoing rehabilitation, with no official timeline provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India regarding his return to competitive action. Despite the setback, he was recently honoured with the Best International Debutant award at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026.
Meanwhile, KKR will also be without Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was released from the squad following directives from the BCCI amid geopolitical tensions. The franchise has signed Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as his replacement.
The three-time champions are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. The tournament schedule has been announced for the opening phase, running from March 28 to April 12.
While no official confirmation has been issued regarding Rana’s availability, his absence would be a significant blow to KKR’s bowling attack as they prepare for the new season.
