Who will replace Mustafizur Rahman at KKR? Kolkata Knight Riders shopping for bowlers as BCCI asks to release Rahman

Ritabrata_Banerjee

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Who will replace Mustafizur Rahman at KKR? Kolkata Knight Riders shopping for bowlers as BCCI asks to release Rahman image

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh international fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad ahead of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League.

KKR won the bidding war and spent a whopping INR 9.20 crore to sign the left-arm fast bowler, who has vast experience of playing in the IPL.

Before being picked up by KKR at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Rahman played for franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

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KKR picking Rahman at the IPL 2026 mini-auction created quite the controversy following the gruesome attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh last month. Several fans and politicians have called for KKR to drop Rahman from their squad in the wake of the violence in the neighbouring country.

Giving priority to the general sentiment in the country, the board took the call to instruct KKR to drop the pacer from their roster.  

MORE: Why KKR was asked to release Mustafizur Rahman

Who will replace Mustafizur Rahman at KKR?

Here's a list of fast bowlers KKR could consider signing to replace Mustafizur Rahman in their squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

Gerald Coetzee

Gerarld Coetzee made his IPL debut in 2024 and enjoyed stellar maiden campaign with the Mumbai Indians as he picked up 13 wickets in 10 matches.

Last season, however, Coetzee hardly got game time after being picked by Gujarat Titans as he appeared in just four matches and took two wickets.

In IPL 2026 mini-auction, Coetzee went unsold, however, KKR could consider signing him, given his prior experience in the tournament and his ability to deliver in death overs.

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MORE: India squad for New Zealand ODI series

Fazalhaq Farooqi

The Afghanistan international plied his trade with Rajasthan Royals last season, where he got to play in five matches and ended the season without scalping a single wicket. In the past he has also played for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

While Farooqi's lack of experience in the IPL makes him a less attractive option compared to Goetzee, his experience in international cricket is something that the KKR management might consider while making their choice. The left-arm pacer has 63 international wickets to his name for Afghanistan/

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Jhye Richardson

The Australian fast bowler, who recently returned to the country's Test team in the Ashes 2025-26 campaign, has enjoyed success in domestic cricket across all formats.

Richardson's IPL experience is minimal as he has only played a few matches for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in the past but his overall experience could be a valuable addition to the KKR squad. 

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Staff Writer