IPL: Tim Southee joins Kolkata Knight Riders as replacement for Pat Cummins

Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Tim Southee as replacement for Pat Cummins for the remainder of the IPL, scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 19.

The experienced New Zealander comes in as his Australian counterpart pulled out due to “personal reasons”.

“Cummins made himself unavailable for the season for personal reasons. Southee comes in with a vast experience of 305 International games for the Kiwis with 603 wickets,” the Knight Riders said in a statement on Thursday.

Cummins was a regular in the Knight Riders’ XI and played all the seven games before the tournament was postponed due to Covid-19 related reasons. He scalped nine wickets and scored 93 runs, including a career-best 66 not out against Chennai Super Kings.