IPL 2024: Mujeeb Ur Rahman Out, Allah Ghazanfar In for Kolkata Knight Riders; Keshav Maharaj Joins Rajasthan Royals
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has witnessed a flurry of roster changes as teams bolster their squads for the upcoming season. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have made significant additions to their bowling departments, with the former replacing injured spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman with his Afghan compatriot Allah Ghazanfar, while the latter has signed South African veteran Keshav Maharaj.
KKR’s Ghazanfar Replacement
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, KKR’s mystery spinner, has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In his place, the franchise has acquired the services of 16-year-old Allah Ghazanfar, a rising star in Afghan cricket. Ghazanfar made his international debut earlier this month in the ODI series against Ireland, although he failed to pick up any wickets in the two matches he played.
However, Ghazanfar’s impressive performance at the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup has caught the attention of KKR. He was Afghanistan’s second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming eight wickets at an average of 16.75. Ghazanfar has also played six List A matches and three T20s, showcasing his versatility as a bowler. He joins KKR for his base price of INR 20 lakhs.
RR’s Maharaj Acquisition
Rajasthan Royals have signed South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj as a replacement for fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who is currently recovering from surgery. Maharaj, a seasoned campaigner, has played 50 Tests, 44 ODIs, and 27 T20Is for South Africa, amassing a total of 237 wickets in international cricket.
Maharaj has also gained valuable experience in T20 leagues around the world, including stints with Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 and Fortune Barishal in the BPL. In this year’s SA20, Maharaj claimed 15 wickets from 13 matches, demonstrating his ability to make an impact in the shortest format of the game.
