An out-and-out quick who can hit 150kph, Malik burst on to the scene in 2021, but has been troubled by injuries and illness since. He was due to play the Duleep Trophy at the start of the 2024-25 domestic season, but had to be withdrawn after suffering a bout of dengue. He then suffered a hip fracture.

Malik has played eight T20Is, picking up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.48. As for Sakariya, he has played two T20Is, taking one wicket at an economy rate of 9.27.

Sakariya could potentially fill in for Spencer Johnson, who is KKR’s first-choice left-arm fast bowler. Malik’s injury-enforced absence now means that KKR don’t have a like-for-like Indian option for Anrich Nortje, who is also prone to injury.

Sakariya was with the KKR squad as a reserve player last season and in this season, he was a net bowler with them before being picked as a replacement player.

“I feel very happy. It feels like I never left the squad, and have just rejoined the team the next year with the same energy and in the same environment,” Sakariya told KKR Knight Club. “I am very grateful to the KKR management for trusting me. I am in a good state of mind and I have prepared well.”

Sakariya is looking forward to working with the KKR coaching staff, including B Arun and Dwayne Bravo.

“In our coaching staff, we can work on our technical aspect as well as tactical. We have the combination of both,” he said. “If we need any help with planning for a match, we can go to DJ Bravo, and if there’s an issue with our rhythm or something, Bharat Arun is renowned for that. So we fast bowlers will get both benefits here.”

KKR are the defending champions, having beaten SRH in the IPL 2024 final.

This story was updated at 2.10pm GMT on March 17 with Sakariya’s quotes.