Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have Madhya Pradesh mystery spinner Shivam Shukla as Rovman Powell has been ruled out due to medical reasons remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Powell, along with England’s Moeen Ali, were among the overseas players who did not return to India following the 10-day suspension of IPL 2025.
According to the franchise’s statement, the West Indian all-rounder undergoing a procedure, was nursing an injury, which led him to not return for the remaining season. However, the side won’t be much affected as their hopes of defending their IPL title came to an end after their game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru was washed out on Saturday, officially ending whatever the little hopes they had for play-offs qualification.
The washout meant both teams shared a point each, mathematically eliminating KKR, who now sit sixth on the table with 12 points from 13 matches.
The mystery spinner from MP is a Knight now!
Shivam Shukla replaces Rovman Powell for the remainder of the #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/usUoOnFzLG
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 18, 2025
The defending champions have chosen to include 29-year-old Shukla in the squad with one game remaining, providing the spinner with an opportunity to showcase his skills. Shivam just finished an incredible domestic cricket season. With a best of 4/29 against
Bengal, he took eight wickets in as many games at an economy rate of just 6.30 during his participation in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
With 10 wickets, including a five-wicket haul, he finished as the Madhya Pradesh Premier League’s top wicket-taker, earning him this IPL opportunity.
The Knight Riders’ campaign hasn’t been great, unfortunately. Even with Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh on the team, Ajinkya Rahane’s team had trouble gaining traction during the competition. The loss of key players that were essential to their 2024 championship push greatly damaged their campaign.
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