IPL 2020: KKR rope in Ali Khan as Harry Gurney's replacement; first USA player to feature in the tournament

Ali Khan picked 8 wickets in as many matches in the recently concluded CPL while playing for TKR.

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Ali Khan
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Ali Khan of Trinbago Knight Riders celebrates the dismissal of Zahir Khan. (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)

The Kolkata Knight Riders have named USA fast bowler Ali Khan as Harry Gurney‘s replacement for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gurney is set to undergo a surgery related to his shoulder injury soon and for the same reason, he pulled out of the IPL and T20 Blast last month. This signing, however, has made Ali Khan the first player from the USA to feature in the cash-rich league.

He is coming on the back of some brilliant performances for the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League. TKR is the CPL franchise with same parent company as KKR and a decent show in the tournament has surely helped Ali in his IPL signing. The pace bowler took eight wickets in as many matches conceding runs at a fairly decent economy of 7.43.

Ali Khan was seen in his TKR teammate Dwayne Bravo‘s Instagram story from inside the plane with caption, ‘next stop Dubai’. This is when the fans were interested to know if the former is playing for any team. The reports in ESPNCricinfo have now confirmed that the USA cricketer will play for the KKR this season and it remains to be seen if he gets a chance at some point in the season.

As far as the 29-year-old’s T20 record is concerned, he has featured in 36 matches in the format picking 38 wickets at a strike-rate of 18.8. His economy rate of 8.63 is a bit on the higher side but then, he bowls the most difficult overs most of the times.

Overseas players in KKR line-up

But Ali Khan might not be the first-choice overseas player in the KKR line-up this season and might have to warm the bench for the most parts. Apart from him, the likes of Eoin Morgan, Tom Banton, Pat Cummins, Andre Russell, Chris Green, Sunil Narine and Lockie Ferguson form their overseas contingent. It will be a tough job for the KKR management to pick four players in the XI.

To start with, it seems that Morgan, Narine, Russell and Cummins will be preferred and as IPL progresses, they might be rotated based on the conditions.

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