Nagarkoti, Mavi ruled out; KKR sign Warrier for IPL 2019

IPL 2019: Kerala fast bowler Sandeep Warrier has been signed up as Mavi’s replacement, while Prasidh Krishna has been confirmed as a permanent member by the Kolkata-based franchise.  

In a major blow to Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL IPL 2019, their two fastest bowlers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi were ruled out of the entire tournament because of injuries on Thursday.  Kerala fast bowler Sandeep Warrier has been signed up as Mavi’s replacement by the Kolkata-based franchise.  

Both Nagarkoti and Mavi were picked up by KKR in IPL 2018 auctions for a base price of 3.2 crores and 3 crores respectively after they made a name for themselves in the U-19 World Cup 2018 with raw pace and movement. Both the right-arm quicks were pivotal in India’s triumph. While Mavi played a crucial role in KKR’s road to the play-offs, his partner Nagarkoti was ruled out of the previous season without paying a single match. Nagarkoti is currently at the NCA and would need another three-four months to regain his fitness

Karnataka fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was drafted in as Nagarkoti’s replacement and he has been signed as a permanent member this year.

Mavi, on the other hand, has been ruled out for at least six months because of a stress fracture in his back. He did not play a single match in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament for UP.

He had played 9 matches for KKR last season, picking up 5 wickets at an economy rate of 9.64.

Nagarkoti’s replacement, Warrier is no stranger to IPL. He was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad from 2013-15 but is yet to make his debut. He was back in the limelight after a terrific domestic season for Kerala, picking up 44 wickets in 10 matches.

Warrier then carried the momentum into T20s, where he picked eight wickets in six matches, including a hat-trick in the game against Andhra in the group stage.

KKR start their IPL campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 24 at the Eden Gardens. IPL 2019 will begin a day earlier at Chennai with defending champions CSK taking on Virat Kohli’s RCB.

KKR IPL 2019 Squad

Dinesh Karthik (c), Carlos Brathwaite, Piyush Chawla, Joe Denly, Lockie Ferguson, Harry Gurney, Kuldeep Yadav, Chris Lynn, Shrikant Mundhe, Nikhil Naik, Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje, Prasidh Krishna, Prithvi Raj, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubham Gill, Rinku Singh, Robin Uthappa, Sandeep Warrier.