IPL 2026: Zaheer Khan fan Saurabh Dubey turns KKR replacement gamble pay off
Saurabh Dubey’s selection as Kolkata Knight Riders’ injury replacement raised eyebrows after the left-arm pacer spent over two years out of competitive cricket. But KKR’s faith in the former net bowler is beginning to pay off. After impressive spells against Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, including wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, Dubey has emerged as one of the surprise stories of KKR’s season.
NEW DELHI: When pacer Saurabh Dubey was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders as an injury replacement for Akash Deep, it raised several eyebrows. Why Dubey? Why a net bowler over a senior domestic pacer?
And why him ahead of experienced names like Navdeep Saini, KM Asif, Simarjeet Singh, Akash Madhwal and Sandeep Warrier, who were also in contention? KKR had in fact held trials to identify a replacement for Akash Deep and Harshit Rana, with several of these bowlers participating. Adding to the scepticism was Dubey’s long absence from competitive cricket.
He had not played for nearly two-and-a-half years, with his last appearance for Vidarbha coming in October 2023 during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he went wicketless in three matches. In his final outing, he conceded 63 runs in four overs against Bengal without taking a wicket. But KKR saw something different.
It is understood that Dubey had been training extensively in the KKR nets, bowling at full intensity under the supervision of the coaching staff. His performances against senior batters in practice sessions earned him an extended look, and he eventually edged out more experienced contenders during the trials. Through all the uncertainty and noise, Dubey remained composed - carrying drinks, ferrying bats, passing on messages from the coaching staff, and quietly waiting for his opportunity.
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