New Zealand quick Tim Southee has earned a call up to the IPL 2021 with Kolkata Knight Riders bringing him in for Pat Cummins, while England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has received a maiden IPL call-up as he replaces Jhye Richardson in the Punjab Kings squad.
KKR have brought in the premier NZ fast bowler Tim Southee for the second leg of the IPL 2021 to be held in UAE from September 19. He comes in as a replacement for Australian international Cummins, who pulled out as his wife is due to give birth to a child during the IPL.
Southee has featured in seven editions of the IPL and has previously played for Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Mumbai Indians.
With MI, he won the Premier League title in 2017. Southee last played in the IPL in 2019 for RCB.
Overall, Southee has played 40 Premier Leage games, taking 28 wickets at an economy rate of 8.74.
“Tim [Southee] has been a strong player and has been the spearhead of the New Zealand team. In the UAE conditions, we hope he will be very effective,”
a KKR official was quoted saying as reported by Cricbuzz.
Southee is the third New Zealand player in KKR’s squad. Lockie Ferguson could be the first-choice overseas fast bowler now and there is Tim Seifert as well.
In another signing, Adil Rashid will replace Punjab Kings’ Jhye Richardson, who pulled out of the remainder of the IPL 2021.
This is Rashid’s maiden IPL call-up. He has been one of the key components of the England white-ball set-up and has played a big role in their success over the last few years.
Recently, Rashid finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in The Hundred – 12 wickets from seven games. In T20Is in 2021, he has returned with 14 wickets from 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.30.
The 33-year-old leg-spinner is the second replacement player for PBKS. They already signed Nathan Ellis as a replacement for Riley Meredith.
