IPL 2026: Three smart bowling replacements for Mustafizur Rahman in KKR

Due to a BCCI ruling, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will no longer be able to keep Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman on its roster, and as a result, KKR has had to make a number of adjustments to the make-up of their team as they prepare for IPL 2026.

While the franchise had secured Mustafizur Rahman's services at an auction price of ₹9.2 crores, after being told by the BCCI to get rid of him, KKR will need to find a way to replace him with an alternative option from the pool of unsold players. Fast bowling is vital to KKR's strategy, and so we've put together a list of three potential fast bowling replacements that the franchise could pursue.

1. Richard Gleeson

Richard Gleeson is an outstanding performer on the pitch in the SA20 league. He has taken 8 wickets in 3 matches. Gleeson was known to be Batman, who runs quickly when out too late, but he also played an important role in the Joburg Super Kings' win with his experience and ability to handle the pressure.

Gleeson is 36 years old and has IPL experience playing for CHENNAI SUPER KINGS and MUMBAI INDIANS in a total of 3 matches. He was given a base price of 75 LAKH in auctions, but his name failed to come up, despite being shortlisted. He would be a valuable acquisition for KKR in the short term based on his performance and experience in various T20 leagues throughout the world.

2. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Another player who stands out from the list of fast bowlers is left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi from Afghanistan. He regularly represents his country in the T20 format and was recently named to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Farooqi brings both variety and consistency when bowling, making him one of the top candidates.

Farooqi has played in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has taken six wickets in 12 games in the IPL, which are not very good statistics, but when you look at his international T20 record, he has made an impression with 63 wickets in 51 T20Is. Overall, he has played 149 T20 games and taken 186 wickets, making him a very reliable performer with plenty of experience.

3. Spencer Johnson

Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson is also on the radar of KKR, though he is currently injured and currently missing out on the Big Bash League due to this injury. He had a disappointing season with KKR in IPL 2025, where he only collected one wicket in four matches.

However, Johnson has an impressive T20 record overall, having taken 85 wickets in 71 T20 matches. He offers both pace and bounce as a left-arm fast bowler, and if Johnson can regain his full fitness, then KKR may consider bringing him back due to their familiarity with both him and the conditions in which they play.