IPL 2025: 3 Bangladesh Players KKR Could Sign as Anrich Nortje’s Replacement

The IPL 2025 is already around the corner, and the buzz for this tournament has started. With all ten teams done with player signings, fans are already looking forward to another interesting season for this cash-rich league. However, heading into the tournament, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are facing a daunting issue, who will be the Anrich Nortje’s Replacement?

Anrich Nortje, who is one of the big signings for KKR, is still recovering from an injury that meant he was not going to be available for the Champions Trophy. It simply remains to be seen if he participates in IPL 2025 or not, which has put KKR on the edge. If really that is the case with Nortje, KKR could look for a quality backup; however, it might look toward Bangladesh, a country that has produced T20 talents over the years.

KKR has a history of banking on Bangladeshi stars, Shakib Al Hasan being historically a big player. In the cases where KKR finds Nortje unavailable, they could sign one of these three Bangladeshi players as his replacement.

Rishad Hossain (Base Price: ₹75 Lakh)

Rishad Hossain T20 Stats

Rishad Hossain has taken the Bangladesh cricket world by storm, creating quite a stir because of his amazing calibre of leg-spin bowling. In the Super-12 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, he proved that he can take wickets and deliver under pressure.

KKR, down history, Kohliâs team revered qualitative spinners, with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy being a big part of their ball-juggling art. The Mumbai Indians selected the young Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanafar during the IPL 2025 auction, and KKR missed out on him. Rishad, though, is a proven wicket-taker, which makes KKR pursue him as a Near-Exactly like-for-like replacement for Nortje and, thereby, introduce some peace of mind in terms of extra spin options for the squad.

Also Read: Allah Ghazanfar Ruled Out of Champions Trophy & IPL 2025: 3 Possible Replacements for MI

Mustafizur Rahman (Base Price: ₹2 Crore)

Mustafizur Rahman IPL Stats

The must-have player with extensive experience in Indian Premier League would know Indian conditions better. He had played in the past for various franchises, namely Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians, and has proved quite dependable over the years.

A home ground of KKR, Eden Gardens does tend to assist bowlers who change up their deliveries from time to time, and Mustafizur, with his cutters, becomes a strong contender to replace Nortje. Priced at a base of ₹2 crore, “The Fizz”, if picked up by KKR as a backup pacer, could prove cheap.

Taskin Ahmed (Base Price: ₹1 Crore)

Taskin Ahmed T20 Stats

Among the most underrated pacers, there are not many who come even close to Taskin Ahmed, who has consistently performed well in Twenty20 cricket. The right-arm quick is known for his pace and ability to hit the areas and is a good option for any team with the new ball.

With Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana expected to play a significant role for KKR during IPL 2025, he will ensure that his inclusion will give the KKR a swing bowler who could break partnerships early by swinging the new ball. With his base price set at ₹1 crore, it makes him the most economical option for the franchise while still remaining a valuable inclusion.

If Nortje is ruled out, KKR will need a replacement to bolster their pace attack. Mustafizur Rahman brings in IPL experience and adaptability; Rishad Hossain offers a spin option that has the ability to take wickets; and Taskin Ahmed is more or less a straightforward choice for the powerplay phase. Each of these players has a certain quality that can help KKR, depending on their balance options.

Who do you think will be Anrich Nortje’s replacement for IPL 2025? Let us know in the comments!