KKR sign Tim Southee as Pat Cummins’ replacement for IPL remainder

Two-time IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday (August 26) have signed up New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as a replacement for their prized all-rounder Pat Cummins. Earlier this year, Cummins confirmed that he wouldn’t be available for the second half of the tournament after firing all guns blazing in the first half of the season. 

“We are delighted to have Southee in our ranks. He is a proven match-winner and a welcome addition to the already strong pace attack of KKR. With Cummins being unavailable we wanted to add experience and leadership to our bowling group and Southee is the ideal man for the job," their head coach Brendon McCullum said. 

Southee, who has thus far in his IPL career, featured for Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore would don the Knight Riders’ jersey in the Middle East. While he averages 25.17 with the ball for New Zealand in T20Is, his IPL average has been underwhelming, at 46.17. 

In his last stint for RCB, which came in 2019, the Kiwi star played only three games, where he finished with an economy rate of 13, an average of 118 and a solitary wicket.