Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as the replacement for Aussie speedster Pat Cummins, for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2021 which is scheduled to begin from September 19 in the UAE.
Cummins won’t be available for the remainder of the cash-rich league as he and his wife are expecting their child around September-October, reports suggest. Southee, who last played in the IPL in 2019 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, went unsold in this year’s auction.
The break will also Cummins more rest ahead of the T20 World Cup, also in the UAE, and the following Ashes at home. Cummins had also recently pulled out of Australia’s tour to West Indies and Bangladesh.
The 32-year-old Southee had previously played for Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, RCB and Rajasthan Royals. He made his IPL debut back in 2011 and has played a total of 40 matches since then picking up 28 wickets with best figures of 3/24.
Before the suspension, KKR were seventh at the points table, winning just two games out of seven. Eoin Morgan & Co. will hope to turn back the table and will resume their campaign RCB on September 20 in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have signed Adil Rashid as a replacement for Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson on Thursday. The 33-year-old England leggie was also the joint-highest wicket-taker at recently-concluded The Hundred.
