In what comes as bad news for Kolkata Knight Riders, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti have been ruled out of IPL 2019. Nagarkoti suffered a back injury while Shivam Mavi has encountered a back stress fracture.
Both the young pacers were bagged by KKR from the last year’s auction. They had put up an impressive show in the Under-19 World Cup that India ended up winning. In IPL 2018, Nagarkoti had to miss out due to a foot injury.
However, Shivam Mavi featured in 9 matches in which he picked up 5 wickets. Both the bowlers have the ability to bowl fast and that’s why they had bagged big bucks from the auction. But it comes as a big blow for the team that none of them will be available this season.
KKR has signed Sandeep Warrier who had gone unsold in the auction earlier this year. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Warrier picked up 8 wickets from 6 games. He had an economy rate of 5.81 and also took a hat-trick against Andhra. Warrier was earlier a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s squad from 2013 and 2015 but didn’t play any games.
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In the absence of Mavi and Nagarkoti, KKR will rely on Prasidh Krishna who did well last year. Andre Russell is the other reliable pacer who is a certainty in the squad. However, they will need an additional seamer and Lockie Ferguson could be the option. But to accommodate him in the line-up, they might have to compromise on an overseas batsman.
Kolkata Knight Riders will start their IPL 2019 campaign on March 24. They will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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