The Kolkata Knight Riders face their first major problem when their IPL 2026 season starts in less than two months. Team management faces pressure from the players who are experiencing injuries and their current performance problems. The team faces its most critical problem with the injury that young bowler Harshit Rana suffered.

 

Rana suffered a knee injury during a warm-up match which led to his ICC T20 World Cup 2026 exclusion. He later underwent surgery. The return date remains unknown because patients who undergo this type of surgery need three to five months for their recovery. The treatment puts his IPL 2026 participation in doubt.

 

The KKR team must find a strong replacement for H Rana if he misses the tournament because he has been a key part of their bowling unit for two seasons.

 

Importance of Harshit Rana for KKR

 

Rana has established himself as one of KKR's most consistent bowlers. He can handle both fast bowling and challenging situations. In the last two IPL seasons, he played key roles in the middle and death overs.

 

The KKR team already faces two difficulties with Matheesha Pathirana's injury and Cameron Green's poor performance. Before the season starts, the team must find the correct replacement player.

 

Here are three players KKR can consider if Rana is unavailable.

 

Simarjeet Singh

 

Simarjeet Singh has played in the IPL before for Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He went unsold in the IPL 2026 auction because his recent playing form did not meet expectations.

 

Simarjeet possesses effective speed and he can hit the pitch hard. He can bowl in the middle overs and trouble batters with bounce. He has IPL experience and knows how to handle pressure situations even though he is not at his best performance level.

 

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RS Ambrish 

 

The recent Under-19 World Cup showcased RS Ambrish as a young fast bowler who made an impression. He achieved 11 wickets in 7 matches while maintaining his economy rate at a low level.

 

The KKR team has shown their support for young players in previous years. Ambrish has not played senior T20 cricket yet, but he has shown promise. His batting ability brings additional value to the table. The franchise should sign him because he presents a long-term investment opportunity.

 

Akash Madhwal

 

Akash Madhwal is another option. He has played for Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. Though his recent form has not been great, he has experience of bowling in tough overs.

 

Madhwal pitches face high-run situations during the final stages of matches. The IPL's recent seasons have featured flat pitches which make it difficult for bowlers to perform. He possesses the ability to execute yorkers and manage run control during the last overs of a game. The KKR team requires a death-over bowler who can perform well when Pathirana is not at full capacity.

 

Big Decision Ahead

 

The KKR management team will observe Rana's recovery process. The team needs to make immediate plans after they discover that he has not recovered his fitness. The IPL tournament requires teams to have backup players because it lasts for an extended period.

 

The KKR team hopes to receive favorable news about their upcoming season. They need to prepare their backup options to prevent problems during IPL 2026.