The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season gets underway in a few days, and just before that, Kolkata Knight Riders shook things up. KKR released Mustafizur Rahman before the T20 World Cup, and now they have picked up Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani instead.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Muzarabani is a giant on the field and he made a real impact in the 2026 T20 World Cup by grabbing 13 wickets. This tied him for second-highest wicket-taker in the recently-concluded tournament. He is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 17.
Muzarabani didn’t get picked in the IPL auction and so he joined Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. Funny thing is, he wasn’t chosen in the PSL auction either. But Islamabad reached out after they let go of Shamar Joseph. Muzarabani’s solid T20 World Cup showing caught Kolkata Knight Riders’ attention, and they offered him a deal. He accepted, pulled out of his PSL contract, and chose to play for Kolkata.
On adding Blessing Muzarabani to their squad, Kolkata Knight Riders stated, “The 6 ft 8” right-arm quick has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading pace bowlers in the shortest format, known for his steep bounce and ability to strike in key phases of the innings. Muzarabani brings significant T20 experience, having claimed over 90 wickets in more than 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.
Blessing Muzarabani made a big impression at the T20 World Cup, grabbing 13 wickets and earning a spot in the ICC Team of the Tournament. His standout moment came when he tore through Australia’s lineup, taking 4 wickets for just 17 runs. Thanks to his heroics, Zimbabwe walked away with the win, and Australia didn’t even make it to the Super 8 stage.
Looking ahead, the Kolkata Knight Riders kick off their IPL 2026 season on March 29 against the Mumbai Indians. After that opener, they’ll play three home games in a row at Eden Gardens throughout April, taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.
