Umran Malik Ruled Out Of IPL 25
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has barely begun to take shape, and already, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been hit with a significant setback. Umran Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir speedster renowned for his blistering pace, has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury, leaving a void in the team’s pace attack.
The news, confirmed on March 16, 2025, just days before KKR’s opening clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 at Eden Gardens, has prompted the franchise to swiftly name Chetan Sakariya as his replacement. This development not only alters KKR’s plans for their title defense but also casts a spotlight on the contrasting fortunes of two talented Indian pacers—one sidelined by injury, the other handed a lifeline to revive his career.
Umran Malik’s rise in cricket has been meteoric, a tale of raw talent bursting onto the scene from an unlikely corner of India. Born in Srinagar, he first turned heads as a net bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2021, his searing pace catching the eye of selectors and fans alike. His IPL debut followed later that year, but it was the 2022 season that truly defined him.
Clocking speeds upwards of 150 kmph with regularity, Umran scalped 22 wickets in 14 matches, earning the Emerging Player of the Season award and a maiden India call-up. His 157 kmph thunderbolt against Delhi Capitals remains one of the fastest deliveries in IPL history, a testament to his rare ability to unsettle even the best batsmen. KKR, recognizing this potential, snapped him up for Rs 75 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction, hoping to unleash his express pace on opposition lineups under the guidance of bowling coach Bharat Arun and mentor Dwayne Bravo.
However, Umran’s career has been plagued by inconsistency and injury setbacks in recent years. After his breakout 2022 season, his appearances dwindled—playing just one match in IPL 2024 for SRH before fading from the spotlight. His international stints, too, have been sporadic, with eight T20Is yielding 11 wickets at a costly economy rate of 10.48.
Reports suggest the latest injury, sustained during pre-season training, could be linked to his history of physical troubles, including a hip fracture and a bout of dengue that ruled him out of the Duleep Trophy in 2024. While the exact nature of this injury remains undisclosed, it’s severe enough to sideline him for the entire IPL season, a crushing blow for both the player and KKR. The franchise, which had pinned hopes on Umran adding firepower to a pace unit featuring Anrich Nortje and Harshit Rana, now faces the challenge of recalibrating without one of its most exciting prospects.
Enter Chetan Sakariya, the left-arm pacer who steps into Umran’s shoes with a blend of experience and untapped potential. Hailing from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, Sakariya’s journey mirrors Umran’s in its humble beginnings but diverges in its trajectory. He burst onto the IPL scene in 2021 with Rajasthan Royals, picking up 14 wickets in his debut season and earning praise for his ability to swing the ball and deliver in crunch situations.
His performances that year—highlighted by a three-wicket haul against Punjab Kings—also earned him an India cap, featuring in one ODI and two T20Is. However, Sakariya’s career hit a rough patch thereafter. Moves to Delhi Capitals in 2022 and a stint with KKR as a net bowler in 2024 yielded limited game time, and injuries, including a wrist issue, kept him out of competitive cricket since February 2024. Unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, his return to the KKR fold at Rs 75 lakh as Umran’s replacement feels like a second chance to reclaim his spot in the limelight.
For KKR, the switch from Umran to Sakariya shifts the dynamic of their bowling attack. Where Umran brought raw, intimidating pace, Sakariya offers control, swing, and a left-arm angle that could prove handy on the spin-friendly Eden Gardens surface. His IPL record—20 wickets in 19 matches at an economy of 8.43—suggests reliability rather than explosiveness, a trait that might complement the likes of Nortje and Spencer Johnson in the overseas pace department.
Yet, questions linger about his readiness. Having not played a competitive match in over a year, Sakariya’s lack of recent game time could test his ability to hit the ground running in the high-pressure IPL environment. KKR’s decision to rope him in, however, reflects confidence in his familiarity with the setup—he was part of their camp last season—and his potential to step up when called upon.
The timing of this change couldn’t be more critical. With the IPL opener just five days away as of March 17, 2025, KKR are in the thick of their pre-season preparations. The team kicked off their camp with a traditional pooja ceremony at Eden Gardens, led by new captain Ajinkya Rahane and pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee, signaling their intent to start the title defense on a positive note.
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Rahane, appointed skipper after Shreyas Iyer’s departure to Punjab Kings, brings a wealth of experience and a red-hot domestic form—469 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy—to the table. Alongside vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, retained for a whopping Rs 23.75 crore, and a robust core featuring Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Varun Chakravarthy, KKR remain formidable. Yet, Umran’s absence leaves their pace bowling thinner than anticipated, placing added pressure on the likes of Vaibhav Arora and Sakariya to fill the breach.
For Umran, this injury is another chapter in a frustrating saga. Once hailed as India’s next pace sensation, his career now hangs in a delicate balance. A stint at the National Cricket Academy for rehabilitation looms, with the BCCI likely to oversee his recovery ahead of future international commitments. Fans, who’ve rallied behind him on platforms like X with messages of support, will hope this setback is temporary, a mere detour in a journey still brimming with promise. For Sakariya, it’s an opportunity to rewrite his narrative. Having tasted both success and obscurity, the 27-year-old has a stage to prove his worth, potentially cementing a long-term role with a franchise known for backing its players.
As KKR gear up to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the tournament opener, the focus will inevitably shift to how Sakariya adapts to his sudden elevation. The defending champions, with their blend of seasoned stars and emerging talents, remain a force to reckon with, but Umran’s absence will be felt—a reminder of the fine line between brilliance and fragility in the fast bowler’s world. For now, the Purple and Gold faithful can only watch and wait, hoping Sakariya seizes this moment to shine, while wishing Umran a swift return to the pace and power that once set the IPL ablaze.
