KKR Pacer Harshit Rana Set to Miss Bulk of IPL 2026 After Knee Surgery

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been dealt a significant blow with news that fast bowler Harshit Rana is likely to miss a major portion of IPL 2026 as he recovers from knee surgery undergone in February.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Rana who suffered a ligament strain in his right knee during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa is currently undergoing rehabilitation, with the BCCI medical team yet to set a firm date for his return.

If Harshit Rana misses the entire tournament, which begins on March 28, it would mark the second consecutive major event he has sat out, having already been ruled out of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. He was replaced in the World Cup squad by Mohammed Siraj.

The 24-year-old had recently been honored with the Best International Debutant award at the BCCI Awards.

Rana’s absence compounds KKR’s fast-bowling concerns. The franchise was earlier forced to release left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman following BCCI instructions amid strained geopolitical relations between India and Bangladesh.

They subsequently signed Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani, who withdrew from his Islamabad United contract in the PSL to join KKR.

However, there are also concerns over Matheesha Pathirana’s fitness after the Sri Lankan quick was ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a calf strain, though his IPL availability was initially not expected to be threatened.

KKR’s current pace options include Vaibhav Arora, Akash Deep, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi, along with all-rounders Cameron Green and Ramandeep Singh.

KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.

                                               

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