IPL 2019: Vigilant scouting led to Sandeep Warrier’s inclusion in the KKR squad

Prior to the start of the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were dealt with a couple of body blows as fast bowlers Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti were ruled out owing to injuries. However, the Knights didn’t press the panic button and have churned out their replacements, one of them being pacer Sandeep Warrier.

The 27-year-old, who replaced Nagarkoti, did reasonably well in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, representing Kerala for whom he picked up eight wickets from six matches with best bowling figures of 3/27 against Andhra. The stupendous performances didn’t evade the eyes of the scouts of the Kolkata-based franchise and he was drafted into the team.

“Warrier has done really well in the domestic season. Our talent scouters watched him and recommended his name strongly. KKR has been blessed with a lot of unique and versatile bowlers. We are excited to work with them,” Omkar Salvi, KKR’s bowling coach, was quoted as saying to the reporters on the sidelines of KKR’s practice session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Carriappa for Mavi

In the meantime, the Knight Riders also brought the services of off-spinner KC Cariappa from Karnataka. He came in as a replacement of Mavi, who was picked last year after an impressive stint in the U19 World Cup in New Zealand. On the other hand, Cariappa came back to the KKR setup after making his IPL debut for the same franchise against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) back in 2015.

However, he only got to play one match after being roped in for INR 2.4 crores. In 2016, he moved to Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and went on to represent them even in 2017. Apart from Cariappa and Warrier, the Knights have also called upon 16-year-old fast bowler Mujtaba Yousuf from Jammu and Kashmir for trials. KKR will play their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 24.

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