Harshit Rana's wretched run with injuries has cost him another major tournament. The Kolkata Knight Riders confirmed on Wednesday that the right-arm quick has been ruled out of IPL 2026 following knee surgery, with experienced seamer Navdeep Saini drafted in as his replacement at a price tag of INR 75 lakh. Rana picked up a ligament strain in his right knee during a warm-up game against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup, where he managed just a single over before breaking down. Mohammed Siraj took his spot for the World Cup, and months later, Rana remains in rehabilitation.
Saini brings genuine pace and big-game experience to a KKR attack that will miss Rana's aggression badly. The 32-year-old has picked up 23 wickets across 32 IPL appearances and adds another 23 international scalps to his CV. He knows what it takes to bowl under pressure at the death and in the powerplay — exactly the kind of utility KKR need heading into their opener against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on March 29.
Gujarat Titans made a move of their own on the same day, signing left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya for INR 30 lakh as cover for the injured Prithviraj Yarra. Khejroliya is no stranger to the franchise, having turned out for GT previously alongside stints at KKR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With six IPL wickets to his name, he offers a left-arm angle that could be handy on Gujarat's home surfaces. GT begin their campaign on March 30.
The injury list keeps growing before a ball has even been bowled in IPL 2026, putting roster depth squarely under the spotlight. Both Saini and Khejroliya now carry the weight of replacing first-choice quicks at clubs chasing silverware. How they handle that pressure could shape the early weeks of this season.
