KKR overcome injuries to strike bowling balance at right time, Kartik Tyagi emerges unsung hero

At the start of Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), Kolkata Knight Riders were the most affected teams due to injuries. The likes of Harshit Rana and Akash Deep were ruled out even before the tournament started while Matheesha Pathirana, who was purchased for a hefty amount in the mini-auction, wasn’t cleared to play for the side until the mid-way stage of the tournament. As a result, reliance on an inexperienced bowling line-up led to KKR losing five matches in a row.

However, they seem to have recovered at the right time, and have overcome these injury concerns with their current crop of bowlers stepping up to deliver. Ajinkya Rahane and co. are on a 3-match winning streak, and are very well on their way to get their 4th consecutive win. While the batters are to be credited, it is their bowlers who need the special mention and who have done the heavy-lifting for their side.

KKR’s bowling unit shines despite multiple injury setbacks

Rana was ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a knee injury, for which he went under the knife in March. This was KKR’s first major loss. After that, they lost Akash Deep as well due to a lower-back injury. To make matters worse, the side was forced to release Mustafizur Rahman, one of their premier signings, way before the start of IPL 2026 due to geopolitical tensions between India and Bangladesh. The cherry on top of the cake came from Pathirana, who did not obtain a fitness clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket until mid-April as he was yet to recover from an injury sustained before the T20 World Cup 2026.

KKR entered IPL 2026 riding on multiple setbacks and even bore the brunt of it, largely related to their bowling department. But, after 6 matches, KKR managed to finally crack the formula and their bowlers, an inexperienced line-up – more or less – stepped up to deliver.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool via Alamy

In the last four matches that KKR have played (3 that they have won and the recent game against DC), KKR’s bowlers have outshined the batters. Veteran Sunil Narine has picked up 6 wickets, while mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy – who has been dealing with hairline fractures in his left wrist apart from a possible foot injury – has bagged 8 wickets. Karthik Tyagi, who was criticised for being quite expensive, has emerged as the unsung hero of the team, leading their pace attack in the last few games and picking up 8 wickets. Anukul Roy has stepped up as well, with the spinner picking up 4 wickets in the last 4 games while Vaibhav Arora has 4 and Cameron Green has 3 to his name.

Pathirana joined the squad earlier last month but is yet to feature in a game for KKR. While the team’s coaches have maintained that he has been training with the team, there seems to be no clarity on his fitness and when he will be ready to return to action. However, in his absence, KKR’s pacers have done well, with Tyagi leading the charge although being expensive while being supported by the likes of Green, Arora. Varun has also braved through multiple injuries in the recent few games to partner with Narine to dismantle the opposition.

In fact, KKR bowlers have been quite expensive in the ongoing edition of the tournament. However, the manner in which they have managed to bounce back in the last few games paints a different picture about what was dubbed an inexperienced and a weak line-up which now seems to peaking at the right time, although it might be too late for the team.

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