New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) The long-awaited moment has arrived for Vidarbha's pacer Saurabh Dubey. Standing tall at six feet five inches, the left-arm fast bowler joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a net bowler at the start of their training for the upcoming ten-team tournament.

Fast forward to now, he has earned a spot in the main squad, stepping in for the injured Indian pacer Akash Deep, who is out of the IPL 2026 due to a stress reaction in his lower back. “This sensation is incredible. I originally came here as a net bowler, and it was just late on Saturday that I learned I would be replacing Akash Deep. I've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time, and it feels amazing. I am committed to giving my best performance,” Dubey shared with IANS.

This selection marks a significant turnaround for Dubey, who was not picked during last year's IPL mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi and had low expectations when he first joined KKR's camp.

“I didn’t have any expectations. I just wanted a chance to play, wherever that might be. That’s why I accepted their invitation to join as a net bowler,” he added.

Previously, Dubey participated in KKR's pre-season camp in Mumbai for two days, and then he had the chance to bowl in practice sessions in Kolkata, including one intra-squad match and two net practices. “They noticed my performance and decided to bring me on board based on that,” he explained.

This is Dubey's second opportunity to play in the IPL, following a previous stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2022, which ended prematurely due to a back injury that prevented him from making his debut.

The fact that he now replaces a player with a similar injury is not lost on those familiar with his journey in Vidarbha, which gained momentum after he was discovered by former Indian pacer and national selector Subroto Banerjee.

“Getting a chance to be part of an IPL team again is quite rare. My cricketing journey began with tennis ball, and my elder brother Gaurav played a crucial role in my transition to bowling with a leather ball. Many in Vidarbha are aware that I started with tennis ball before switching to leather in 2016,” Dubey recounted.

“During a tournament in Wardha, I drew the attention of several seniors because of my height and bowling style. A coach named Ravi Lunga sent my videos to Prashant Vaidya, the Chairman of the VCA, who then referred me to Nagpur to meet Subu sir. I practiced at a ground called SBCA in Nagpur, and Subu sir selected me for Vidarbha’s residential academy program. That’s how I started representing the state,” he reflected, having played eight List A games and three T20 matches.

Dubey also represented India A at the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where the current Indian men's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was the head coach. Despite having played white-ball cricket for Vidarbha, Dubey remained on the fringes of the big stage until his recent selection by KKR for IPL 2026 changed everything.

Understanding the significance of this opportunity he has been seeking for years, Dubey is eager to make an impact for KKR. “I believe things will only improve from here. I aim to perform to the best of my abilities, and that’s my goal for the remainder of the season,” he concluded.