Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Mar 19: Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar on Wednesday welcomed Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani, calling his inclusion a “blessing in disguise” as the team begins preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League season.
Addressing players during the squad’s first training session at the iconic Eden Gardens, Nayar made a light-hearted yet pointed reference to Muzarabani’s late entry into the squad following the exit of Mustafizur Rahman.
“Blessing, you are a blessing in disguise for us,” said Nayar, who recently took over as head coach after the franchise parted ways with Chandrakant Pandit following a disappointing eighth-place finish last season.
Nayar, a long-time member of the KKR setup under Gautam Gambhir, also highlighted Muzarabani’s towering presence, calling him the “tallest member” of the squad and expressing confidence in his impact.
The Zimbabwean pacer arrives with impressive form, having picked up 13 wickets in the recent T20 World Cup, including a standout 4/17 against Australia. With over 200 international wickets to his name, he adds experience and pace to KKR’s bowling attack.
Despite his credentials, Muzarabani is yet to make his IPL debut, having previously been part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a replacement player in 2025.
KKR had initially signed Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.2 crore as a backup overseas pacer to Matheesha Pathirana, but the Bangladesh pacer was released following BCCI directives amid strained India-Bangladesh relations.
Muzarabani has now joined KKR on a Rs 75 lakh deal after opting out of the Pakistan Super League.
With fresh leadership and new additions, KKR will be aiming to bounce back strongly and push for a fourth IPL title this season.