Left-arm fast bowler Chetan Sakariya is delighted to be back with the Kolkata Knight Riders for TATA IPL 2025. The pacer from Saurashtra is signed by the defending champions as a replacement for Umran Malik for the upcoming season.Ahead of the new season, Sakariya officially joined the KKR squad on Monday and expressed his excitement to be back with the squad. He said, “I am really happy to be back. It feels like I never left the squad. I’ve come back to the team with the same atmosphere. KKR is known to be full of energy and all the players are working with the same mindset in training.”The 27-year-old has represented India in an ODI and two T20Is, while also scalping 20 wickets in 19 TATA IPL matches. However, he is working his face back to full fitness, recovering from an injury setback suffered in February 2024.Sakariya gave some insight into his preparations as he aims to return to competitive action. He stated, “I am very grateful to KKR management because they believe in me. I am also in a good state of mind and have been preparing well. So, I am confident going into the season.”The young fast bowler also spoke about the prospect of working with some greats like Bharat Arun and mentor Dwayne Bravo behind the scenes. “we have bowling experts in our staff. If you need help with the tactical elements and planning, you can go to DJ Bravo. If there are any issues with your rhythm, Bharat sir is the expert. So, as a fast bowler, you can benefit from both,” he concluded.Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their TATA IPL 2025 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens, with Ajinkya Rahane at the helm this time around.
About Kolkata Knight Riders :
The Knight Riders brand is a global brand in International Cricket, with eight trophies to its name and four professional franchises under its wings – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the TATA IPL, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in UAE’s International League T20 and Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in USA’s Major League Cricket, making it one of the most versatile brands in T20 cricket globally.KKR has made four appearances in the TATA IPL final, winning the championship thrice (2012, 2014, 2024). They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament’s history. TKR’s Men’s Team has won the CPL championship 4 times in 10 years since the Knight Riders took over the franchise. They are the most successful team in the Caribbean and hold a unique feat of having won the trophy in 2020 without losing a single game in the whole tournament. TKR Women, the Knight Riders’ first ever Women’s Team, were champions of the inaugural WCPL in 2022.For many years now, the Knight Riders Academy has been actively scouting talented cricketers from across India and around the world. The sole objective of the Academy is to identify and help cricketers make an overall round-the-year improvement in their cricketing skills and fitness. For more information, contact: Himanish Bhattacharjee – [email protected]
