IPL 2026: Navdeep Saini replaces injured Harshit Rana for Kolkata Knight Riders

IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Navdeep Saini as a replacement for Harshi Rana, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a igament strain in his right knee.

Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Navdeep Saini as a replacement for Harshit Rana for IPL 2026. Rana was earlier ruled out of the tournament after suffering a ligament strain in his right knee during the T20 World Cup, further depleting KKR’s bowling attack. Akash Deep and Matheesha Pathirana are also injured, while Mustafizur Rahman was left out of the squad.

Saini, who has taken 77 wickets in 87 T20s, including one four-wicket haul, said he found out only last night that KKR had picked him and was overwhelmed by the news. The speedster said he always believed his hard work would pay off, adding that he had manifested the opportunity and that his faith in god made the moment even more special.

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“I found out last night, and the moment I got to know, I honestly didn’t know how to react. But somewhere, I always felt that the way I’ve been working hard and putting in the effort, something like this was bound to happen,” Saini told Knight Club.

“In a way, you could say it was already in my mind - almost like I had manifested it, to be honest. I knew it would happen someday, but the most important thing is to keep faith in god. That’s exactly what I did, and when it finally happened, it felt really amazing,” Saini added.

Saini has returned to the IPL for the first time since 2023. He brings valuable experience to KKR despite not having played regularly in recent seasons. The right-arm pacer made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2019 after first being picked by Delhi Daredevils in 2017, and quickly earned a reputation for his raw pace and hit-the-deck bowling.