Kolkata Knight Riders have been dealt another major blow ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with fast bowler Akash Deep ruled out due to a lower-back stress injury.

Akash Deep, who has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, is expected to require at least three more months to recover, effectively ending his chances of featuring in this year’s tournament. He was not part of KKR’s pre-season camp, signalling early concerns about his availability.

His absence compounds an already troubling situation for KKR’s pace attack. Harshit Rana is also unlikely to feature, while Matheesha Pathirana is set to miss the early part of the season as he continues his recovery from injury.

In response, KKR have brought in Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, but their fast-bowling resources remain thin. The current Indian pace options include Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik and Kartik Tyagi, with Cameron Green offering additional support as a seam-bowling allrounder.

The franchise is reportedly conducting trials to identify another Indian fast bowler, with reinforcements urgently needed to stabilise the attack.

With multiple injuries affecting key bowlers, KKR face a significant challenge heading into IPL 2026. Their ability to rebuild a competitive pace unit could prove decisive in determining whether they can overcome early setbacks and remain contenders in the tournament.