The franchise confirmed the signing on Friday, with the 6 ft 8 in right-arm quickie set to join the squad ahead of the IPL 2026, which begins on March 28.
Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera during the Group B ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, February 19, 2026. (Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)
Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The franchise confirmed the signing on Friday, with the 6 ft 8 in right-arm quickie set to join the squad ahead of the IPL 2026, which begins on March 28.
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In an official statement, KKR said Muzarabani has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading fast bowlers in the shortest format, known for his steep bounce and ability to strike in crucial phases of the innings.
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A new Blessing in Purple & Gold pic.twitter.com/p31V3LsGfm
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 13, 2026
“Muzarabani brings significant T20 experience, having claimed more than 90 wickets in over 80 T20 Internationals at an average of around 21, with best figures of 3/8. His pace and consistency across global leagues and international cricket add further depth to KKR’s pace attack heading into the season,” the franchise said.
Also Read: IPL 2026 tickets, schedule, teams and full match list: All you need to know
The 29-year-old recently impressed in the 2026 T20 World Cup, finishing with 13 wickets, which further strengthened his reputation as a reliable pace option in T20 cricket.
Muzarabani replaces Mustafizur Rahman, who was asked to be released from the KKR squad earlier this year following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India amid regional geopolitical developments and security concerns.
Following his release from his ₹9.2 crore IPL contract, Mustafizur went on to sign with Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.
Interestingly, Muzarabani had earlier joined Islamabad United as a replacement for Shamar Joseph during the PSL season in February. However, after securing the IPL contract with KKR, the Zimbabwe pacer withdrew from the league to prioritise the IPL opportunity.
The tall speedster is expected to add extra pace and bounce to the KKR bowling attack and is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 17 to begin preparations with the squad.
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