Akash Deep has become the latest victim of growing injuries among fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026. Kolkata Knight Riders pacer has been reportedly ruled out of the upcoming tournament due to an unknown injury.

According to a report from Cricbuzz, Akash Deep has not reported at the KKR camp, which began on March 18. It also reported that the 29-year-old right-arm pacer is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Akash Deep’s injury adds more misery to the three-time IPL champions. Kolkata Knight Riders have already lost Harshit Rana to injury, and Matheesha Pathirana is confirmed to miss the opening few games in the IPL 2026.

KKR signed Deep for INR 1 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. The Bengal pacer represented Lucknow Super Giants last season, picking up three wickets in six innings. He last played a competitive match against Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Cup semifinals last month.

KKR’s bowling attack grows thin after Akash Deep’s injury blow

Akash Deep was expected to step up in Harshit Rana’s absence in the cash-rich league. Last season’s leading wicket-taker Vaibhab Arora is likely to lead the pace attack consisting of Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi, Matheesha Pathirana, and Blessing Muzarabani, who came in as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman.

All-rounders Ramandeep Singh and Cameron Green offer pace options for the Ajinkya Rahane-led side and are likely to contribute with the ball if the franchise fails to sign quality replacements for Rana and Deep.

Pathirana and Muzarabani are unlikely to find a regular place in the playing eleven, as the management is likely to prefer Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Cameron Green, and Sunil Narine as their four overseas options this season. So, fans can expect an all-Indian pace attack for the KKR in IPL 2026.

However, KKR have quality spin options in the form of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. All-rounders Anukul Roy and Rachin Ravindra are also expected to play a part with the ball this season. New signings Prashant Solanki, Daksh Kamra and Sarthak Ranjan also boost KKR’s spin options for the IPL 2026.

KKR full squad for IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani.