IPL 2021: KKR sign THIS New Zealand pacer as Pat Cummins’ replacement, PBKS rope in England leg-spinner

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as a replacement for their Australian quick Pat Cummins. Cummins had pulled himself out of the second phase of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be played in the UAE from September 19 as his wife Becky Boston is pregnant and are expecting their first child in September or October.

Officially a Knight

Kiwi pacer #TimSouthee to don for the UAE leg of #IPL2021.

Welcome aboard, Tim.#KKR #IPL2021 https://t.co/l0fRhdEVhV

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 26, 2021

Southee, who went unsold in the auction in the last two years, last played in the IPL in 2019 for the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore. Southee has featured in the league for Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as well previously and has picked up 28 wickets in 40 matches at an economy of 8.74.

Talking about signing the veteran fast bowler KKR head coach, Brendon McCullum said that in Cummin’s absence they needed someone with the experience and to add leadership to their bowling group. “We are delighted to have Southee in our ranks. He is a proven match-winner and a welcome addition to the already strong pace attack of KKR. With Cummins being unavailable we wanted to add experience and leadership to our bowling group and Southee is the ideal man for the job,” McCullum said.

Southee joins Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson as the third Kiwi player in the KKR squad alongside Eoin Morgan, Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Cutting and Andre Russell as the overseas options.

Adil Rashid gets an IPL contract

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have roped in England leg-spinner and World No 4 bowler, Adil Rashid as Jhye Richardson’s replacement in their squad. The Kings had announced Australian pacer Nathan Ellis as the first replacement, who came in place of Riley Meredith, who will be unavailable for the rest of the tournament.

The one who will surely brighten up your feed – Adil Rashid 

We know we have chosen the right one to bowl the wrong ones #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/F5f0vfgr5l

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) August 26, 2021

Rashid, who has represented England in 193 matches across formats, will be part of the lucrative league for the first time after being England’s best bowler in the white-ball formats, especially in the T20Is. Rashid joins his fellow countrymen Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan as the third England player in the PBKS’ squad along with the likes of Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Moises Henriques and Nathan Ellis as the overseas options.

The second phase of the IPL 2021 kicks off on September 19 with Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings in Dubai.