By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe cricket star Blessing Muzarabani is set to train with his new franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for the first time today at Eden Gardens as preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season gather momentum.
There was a buzz in Kolkata on Tuesday as Muzarabani arrived alongside several KKR players and support staff for the team’s pre-season camp. The three-time IPL champions are aiming for a strong comeback this year after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
KKR will kick off their IPL 2026 season with a high-profile away fixture against Mumbai Indians on March 29.
Zimbabwean star attracts attention
Much of the spotlight is on the towering Muzarabani, the six-foot-eight fast bowler who has become one of Zimbabwe’s leading cricket exports. The 29-year-old recently impressed on the global stage, finishing with 13 wickets to emerge as the joint second-highest wicket-taker at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
His standout performance included a brilliant 4/17 spell that helped Zimbabwe secure a memorable upset victory over Australia during the group stages.
Big pay rise after IPL switch
Muzarabani was initially signed by Islamabad United for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 for PKR 1.10 crore (approximately $40,000–$44,000). However, he opted to switch to the IPL after being drafted in by KKR as a replacement for Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman.
According to reports, the Zimbabwean pacer will earn Rs 75 lakh (around $90,000) at KKR — representing a 106% increase in his base salary.
On top of that, the IPL’s 2025–26 cycle introduced a match fee bonus of Rs 7.5 lakh (approximately $9,000) per game, further boosting his earnings. The lucrative offer proved too good to turn down, even though it may expose him to a potential PSL ban.
Muzarabani’s arrival comes at a crucial time for KKR, who have been hit by setbacks in their pace department. The team is already dealing with the absence of Mustafizur Rahman, along with an injury to Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana.
His height, pace, and ability to extract bounce are expected to add a new dimension to KKR’s bowling attack as they push for a return to title contention.