KKR rope in Blessing Muzarabani for IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani for IPL 2026. Muzarabani has reportedly given up his PSL contract to take up the opportunity in the IPL. The Zimbabwean had gone unsold at the PSL auction last month but became a direct signing by Islamabad United as a replacement player for West Indies' Shamar Joseph.

Muzarabani will return to India after recently finishing off a commendable World Cup campaign in the subcontinent where his team went till the Super Eights. In the six games he played in India and Sri Lanka, Muzarabani picked up 13 wickets - only Jasprit Bumrah and Varun CV picked more (14 wickets each in 8 and 9 matches respectively) in the tournament.

The fast bowler, standing at 6 feet 8 inches, has been an all-format bowler for Zimbabwe since debuting in 2017. In 89 T20Is, Muzarabani has 106 wickets and an economy rate of 7.24. Muzarabani has taken his fast bowling skills around the globe in T20 competitions, featuring in the CPL, ILT20, PSL and even the Vitality Blast in England before.

This marks Muzarabani's second stint with an IPL team. He was a temporary replacement player for eventual champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru towards the closing stages of IPL 2025.

Muzarabani is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 17 and join up with the squad. Earlier this year, KKR had to terminate Mustafizur Rahman's contract, after having secured his services for INR 9.20 Crore. KKR's other big-money fast bowling signing - Mathesha Pathirana meanwhile, is still undergoing rehabilitation for the injury he endured midway through the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.

KKR begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium.