Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been dealt with a few injury concerns ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 that is scheduled to begin from March 23.
19-year-old fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti has been ruled for a second time running as he’s yet to recover from a back injury. Knight Riders have roped in Kerala pacer Sandeep Warrier as his replacement.
Warrier, who was a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) set up for the last three IPL seasons, but was unable to get a game, went unsold in the mega auctions last December. He was one of the stars in Kerala’s historic performance in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 picking 44 wickets.
Nagarkoti, who was bought by KKR for Rs 3.2 crore in the 2018 IPL auction, was one of the prime members of India’s Under-19 World Cup title-winning team. He is currently recovering at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and will need another two to three months to fully recover.
In another blow to the pace department, Shivam Mavi, who was also part of the U-19 World Cup winning team last year, has been ruled out of the upcoming IPL season with a stress fracture in his back. Mavi, who plays for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit, is likely to be out of action for at least six months.
KKR will start their IPL 2019 campaign with a home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 24.
