Kolkata Knight Riders signs Shivam Shukla as Rovman Powell replacement for the IPL 2025

Shivam Shukla has officially replaced Rovman Powell for the remainder of the Indian Premier League. The franchise announced on Monday and informed that Powell has been ruled out of the remainder IPL 2025. The decision comes after KKR announced that Powell, alongside Moeen Ali, won’t be returning for the remainder of the season due to medical reasons. “Rovman is undergoing a procedure,” the franchise had said in a statement as IPL 2025 eyed resumption after a temporary suspension.

🚨 The mystery spinner from MP is a Knight now!

Shivam Shukla replaces Rovman Powell for the remainder of the #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/usUoOnFzLG

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 18, 2025

Kolkata’s new spinner will be the franchise for just a match, as KKR is only left with a single league stage match now and is already eliminated from the playoffs race. KKR became the fourth team to get knocked out after their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru was abandoned due to rain without any ball being bowled.

Who is Shivam Shukla?

Shivam Shukla is a mystery spinner from Madhya Pradesh, he came into the limelight in the inaugural edition of the MP T20 League, where he took 10 wickets for his team with a fifer in his name and won the purple cap playing for the Rewa Jaguars. This 29 year old has limited domestic experience and he has been with the Sunrisers Hyderabad as a net bowler earlier.

Shukla’s domestic stint might be short, but his bowling style is similar to Saeed Ajmal—lets him trick batters with his doosra, off-spin, and top-spin variations. He has only played one season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, claiming eight wickets in as many games, including a 4/29 against Bengal. He impressed during the latest season of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League, where he was the highest wicket-taker in the competition with 10 scalps that also included a fifer.

Since the match in Bengaluru rained out on Saturday, KKR now have only one game left this season, which is against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 25.