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Umran, who has 29 wickets to his name in 26 IPL matches played so far, was signed for Rs 75 lakh by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Umran Malik ruled out of IPL 2025 due to an injury. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Star Indian fast bowler Umran Malik has been ruled out of IPL 2025 on Sunday (March 16) due to an injury. The 25-year-old cricketer from Jammu was signed for Rs 75 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction by the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders last year.
According to a release by IPL, the Kolkata-based franchise has signed Saurashtra pacer Chetan Sakariya as his replacement.
“KKR pick Chetan Sakariya as a replacement for Umran Malik. 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,” the IPL release stated.
Umran, who made his IPL debut in the 2021 season for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has played 26 matches in the world’s richest franchise cricket league so far and has picked up 29 wickets. He accounted for the dismissal of 22 batters in 14 matches of IPL 2022 but failed to build on that show in the next two seasons.
He played only once in IPL 2024 for SRH and was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Umran last played a competitive match on March 27, 2024.
Sakariya, who has also played one ODI and two T20Is for Team India, was associated with KKR in IPL 2024 but didn’t get a chance to play any match. The 27-year-old cricketer from Bhavnagar has 20 wickets to his name in 19 IPL matches played so far for Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.
KKR to face RCB in IPL 2025 opener
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first match of IPL 2025 on Saturday, March 22. The high-voltage match between the two star-studded sides is scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. KKR will play under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, whereas Rajat Patidar will lead RCB.