Shivam Mavi will miss this IPL season
Kolkata Knight Riders have been dealt a huge blow in the upcoming 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as pacers Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti have been ruled out for the season due to injuries. The latter had also missed the previous season as he is still yet to recover from a back injury.
The two pacers were a formidable part of India's U-19 World Cup winning squad in 2018, which saw the two get lucrative deals from the two-time champions, KKR.
Nagarkoti was signed by KKR for a price tag of Rs.3.2 crore in the 2018 IPL auctions and is currently at the NCA, where he will need two or three months to fully recover.
The franchise signed Kerala fast bowler Sandeep Warrier as his replacement.
Mavi is also on the road to recovery as he as well will miss out this season due to a stress fracture in his back. The pacer who plays for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit is likely to be out of action for at least 6 months.
Kolkata Knight Riders begin their preparations for the upcoming season from March 13, according to sources.
The Knights, led by Dinesh Karthik, will also practice at the Eden Gardens ahead of their IPL opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 24.
Going by the fixtures released for the first two weeks, KKR take on Kings XI Punjab at home next on March 27.
For the past three seasons, KKR have not been able to go beyond the playoffs, losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in 2018. They won the coveted crown in 2012 and 2014.
Squad: Dinesh Karthik (captain & keeper), Robin Uthappa (vice-captain), Chris Lynn, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, Nitish Rana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Carlos Brathwaite, Lockie Ferguson, Anrich Nortje, Nikhil Naik, Harry Gurney, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Joe Denly and Shrikant Mundhe.
