Kolkata Knight Riders sign former DC left-arm pacer who remained unsold - Meet the player now!

New Delhi: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have added 27-year-old fast bowler Chetan Sakariya to their squad as a net bowler ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, set to kick off on March 22. Sakariya, who was previously part of the Delhi Capitals, remained unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The talented left-arm bowler, who has had a stint with the Knight Riders in the past, is all set to take on his role as a net bowler for the team. This move marks his comeback to the franchise that had acquired him for Rs 50 lakh in the IPL 2024 auction, despite not getting any game time in the previous season.

Chetan Sakariya’s journey in professional cricket has been characterized by both achievements and difficulties. He played a key role in Saurashtra’s victory in the Ranji Trophy before joining the IPL, but he later faced a downturn in performance, which limited his opportunities with the Delhi Capitals over two seasons. Additionally, a serious wrist injury kept him out of all cricket activities. Nevertheless, Sakariya successfully returned to the sport after his recovery. Once he regained his fitness, he made a notable impression on the bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders during a T20 tournament in Mumbai, which led to his rejoining the team.

Chetan Sakariya has a chance to rejuvenate his cricket career by serving as a net bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders, for which he will earn a fee of Rs 2 lakh. In addition to the monetary benefit, this position offers him the opportunity to train with elite players and gain insights from a well-regarded coaching team. This includes bowling coach Arun, mentor Dwayne Bravo, head coach Chandrakant Pandit, and assistant coach Ottis Gibson, all of whom can help improve his skills on the field.

Chetan Sakariya’s International and IPL Journey
Chetan Sakariya began his international cricket career in July 2021, making his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo. During the same tour, he played two T20I matches. So far, he has taken three wickets in three international games. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sakariya has been a promising performer, securing 20 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 29.95. He made his IPL debut in 2021 with the Rajasthan Royals and later played for the Delhi Capitals in the following two seasons.

KKR Squad for IPL 2025
KKR has assembled a strong squad for IPL 2025, featuring key players like Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Venkatesh Iyer. The team also includes Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, and Moeen Ali. With experienced players such as Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, and Umran Malik, along with young talents like Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harshit Rana, KKR aims to be a strong contender this season.