Blessing Muzarabani withdraws from PSL, set to join three time winners for IPL 2026

The performance of Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani was impressive in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The tall pacer finished as Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 wickets. His performance was also the fourth-best overall in the competition. Muzarabani played a key role in Zimbabwe’s wins against Australia and Sri Lanka during the Sri Lanka leg of the tournament.

The pacer was recently signed by Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 as a replacement for Shamar Joseph. However, he has now withdrawn from the tournament. Reports suggest that Muzarabani might soon join the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the upcoming season. He has been strongly linked with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

KKR are yet to announce a replacement for Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The left-arm fast bowler was bought by the franchise for INR 9.20 crore in the IPL auction last year. However, he was later released on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to political tensions between India and Bangladesh. With the IPL season approaching, Muzarabani is believed to be the frontrunner for the replacement role.

Muzarabani Could Strengthen KKR’s Pace Attack

KKR have been facing several issues in their fast-bowling department ahead of IPL 2026. Matheesha Pathirana and Harshit Rana are both currently dealing with injuries. Pathirana suffered a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup and has been sidelined since February 16. However, he is expected to join the team in a few weeks.

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On the other hand, Harshit Rana may miss most of the IPL season after suffering a knee injury during a warm-up match between India and South Africa. This has left KKR looking for another reliable pace option for the early part of the tournament. Muzarabani’s height and ability to extract bounce could make him a strong option for the team.

The Zimbabwe fast bowler also has experience playing in various T20 leagues around the world. The fast bowler has played in various T20 leagues such as ILT20, PSL, CPL, and Vitality Blast. The fast bowler has taken 45 wickets in these leagues with a good economy rate. With the players like Tim​ Seifert and Finn Allen already firing in the order, KKR were amongst the favourites for the IPL 2026 crown.