Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Chetan Sakariya as the replacement player for the injured Umran Malik. Defending Champions KKR picked Umran Malik for INR 75 Lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction after SRH released him.

Regarding Umran Malik’s replacement news, the official statement reads “Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) picked Chetan Sakariya as a replacement for Umran Malik for the upcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Umran Malik is ruled out of the season due to an injury. Sakariya has represented India in an ODI and two T20Is and has played 19 IPL games, scalping 20 wickets from the same. Sakariya, a left-arm medium pacer, joins KKR for INR 75 Lakh”.

Earlier to the announcement, Chetan Sakariya was seen in the KKR camp as a net bowler after being unsold in the mega auction.

Chetan Sakariya made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2021 and moved to the Delhi Capitals in 2022. Sakariya has played 19 IPL games over three seasons (2021-23) and has taken 20 wickets at an economy of 8.43.

Sakariya also represented India in one ODI and two T20Is and has two international wickets to his name.

Ahead of the IPL 2025, KKR named Ajinkya Rahane their new captain. As per IPL 2025 schedule the first match will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 22 March 2025 in Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Following a successful campaign, KKR will miss a few of their support staff unit in IPL 2025.

Kolkata Knight Riders will miss the key person behind their success in the last season. As Gautam Gambhir was named as the head coach of the Indian Men’s cricket team, KKR will miss the service of their former skipper for the IPL 2025 season.

Along with Gambhir, KKR will also miss Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate who were also members of the KKR support staff unit last year. KKR roped former West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo to fill the vacant mentor post for the IPL 2025 season.