More than a year after his last professional match, pacer Chetan Sakariya has joined the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, he’ll have to wait longer for game time, as he’s currently been brought in as a net bowler.
Having represented India in three limited-overs matches and played 19 IPL games for Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, Sakariya’s failure to attract a bid in the IPL 2025 auction was a definite setback.
Wrist Injury Halted Sakariya’s Career
Sakariya, a promising left-arm pacer, had been fast-tracked to the Indian team after an impressive IPL debut. He was also part of Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy-winning squad before making his mark in the IPL. However, inconsistent performances saw him feature in just five games for Delhi Capitals over two seasons.
A major wrist injury then sidelined him from all forms of cricket. According to Rev Sportz, he sought treatment from NCA-recommended specialist Dr. Sudhir Warrier. Now back to full fitness, Sakariya caught the eye of KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun while playing in a T20 tournament in Mumbai.
Ottis Gibson Joins KKR as Assistant Coach for IPL 2025
A Second Stint With KKR
This marks Sakariya’s second stint with the Knight Riders. The franchise had bought him for ₹50 lakh in the IPL 2024 auction, though he didn’t play a single match that season.
While his overall IPL earnings are around ₹10 crore, his current role as a net bowler will fetch him just ₹2 lakh. However, the opportunity to train with top players and under the guidance of experienced coaches like Arun, mentor Dwayne Bravo, head coach Chandrakant Pandit, and assistant coach Ottis Gibson could prove invaluable for his career.
If Sakariya is looking for inspiration, he need not look further than veteran pacer Mohit Sharma. After barely featuring in four IPL seasons and missing domestic cricket, Sharma joined Gujarat Titans as a net bowler in 2022. He soon transformed into a reliable death-over specialist for the next two seasons.
For Sakariya, this could be the perfect opportunity to script his own comeback story.
