Injury Blow to Kolkata Knight Riders as Harshit Rana Likely to Miss Major Part of IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders face a setback ahead of IPL 2026 as pacer Harshit Rana is unlikely to recover in time, with reports suggesting he could miss more than half the season

Kolkata | 18 March, 2026: Harshit Rana is set to deal a significant blow to Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season, as the young fast bowler is unlikely to regain full fitness in time for the tournament

The 28-year-old pacer is still recovering from a serious injury sustained during a recent international assignment. He reportedly required surgery and remains in rehabilitation, raising concerns about his availability for a large part of the season. Sources indicate that he could miss more than half of the matches, although no official return date has been announced yet.

Rana had emerged as a key performer for Kolkata over the past two seasons, playing a crucial role with consistent wicket-taking contributions. His absence is expected to weaken the team’s bowling attack, especially during the early stages of the tournament.

Adding to the concerns, Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is also expected to miss the season due to external factors, further reducing the team’s pace options. This situation could increase the responsibility on bowlers like Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, and Kartik Tyagi to step up in crucial matches.

Kolkata Knight Riders are scheduled to begin their campaign later this month, and the team management is yet to announce a replacement for Rana. With limited time remaining before the tournament, the franchise faces a challenging task in reshaping its bowling combination.

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