Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have faced an early hurdle in their preparations for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as newly acquired Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is set to miss the opening week of the tournament. During the recent auction in Abu Dhabi, KKR secured the left-arm seamer for a career-high ₹9.20 crore after a fierce bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.

Here’s how many days KKR’s pacer Mustafizur Rahman will be out of IPL 2026

However as per Cricbuzz report, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that while the ‘Fizz’ has been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the league, he must return to national duty for an eight-day window to participate in a crucial ODI series against New Zealand. This temporary absence is driven by Bangladesh’s desperate push to break into the top eight of the ICC rankings and secure direct qualification for the ODI World Cup 2027.

The temporary loss of Mustafizur Rahman creates a specific tactical challenge for KKR, as the left-arm seamer was bought specifically to provide the variety and death-bowling expertise previously offered by Mitchell Starc. With the IPL 2026 season rumored to begin on March 26, Mustafizur will be absent for the first few matches to lead the Bangladesh attack against the Kiwis. To mitigate this, KKR will rely heavily on their other marquee pace signing, Matheesha Pathirana, who was roped in for ₹18 crore, to lead the overseas fast-bowling contingent alongside the retained Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora.

The depth of the KKR squad, which includes Cameron Green and Akash Deep, provides some insurance, but the unique “cutters” and angles that Mustafizur brings to the Eden Gardens surface will be missed during the initial phase of the competition.

BCB’s cricket operations chairman, Nazmul Abedin, emphasized that the decision was non-negotiable given the high stakes of the New Zealand series, stating,

“We have given Mustafizur an NOC for the entire IPL. He will only return to play for the national team during the New Zealand ODI series, which consists of three matches. He will return for eight days to play the ODI series,” Nazmul said.

Nazmul added that the competitive environment in IPL will help him perform well against New Zealand in the ODIs.

“One is that yes, he will be in a T20 environment and coming back to play ODIs, we can say there may be a transition period. At the same time, the level at which he will be playing and the competitive environment he will be in can also allow him to contribute more after returning. So we considered all the pros and cons and felt that his presence is important for us. With our existing strength, having him makes the team stronger, and that is the consideration behind this decision,” Nazmul concluded.

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The ₹9.20 crore gamble: Mustafizur’s value in the KKR bowling cartel

Despite the brief unavailability, KKR’s investment of ₹9.20 crore in Mustafizur Rahman highlights his evolution into one of the most sought-after T20 specialists in the world. Having previously represented CSK and Delhi, Mustafizur’s familiarity with Indian conditions makes him a lethal asset, especially as a replacement for the departing Andre Russell’s bowling overs.

KKR entered the auction with a massive ₹64.30 crore purse and prioritized building a bowling cartel that includes Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and the expensive Green. The addition of Mustafizur was the final piece of this puzzle, intended to provide left-arm variety that complicates matchups for opposition top orders.

While the first eight days will require tactical reshuffling, KKR remains confident that the long-term value of the “Fizz” across the remaining two months of the tournament justifies the high price tag and the short-term inconvenience. The team’s ability to navigate this early-season absence will be the first major test for the management.

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