Ferguson and Gurbaz have been roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders from the Gujarat Titans.
Lockie Ferguson has been traded back to his former IPL team.
Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in New Zealand pace bowler Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz from IPL champions Gujarat Titans in exchanges ahead of the 2023 season auction, which is set for December 23 in Kochi. The IPL and the franchisees have not published any details about the all-cash transaction.
Ferguson joins a pace attack that includes Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins, fellow New Zealander Tim Southee, and India’s Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi. Ferguson’s acquisition brings him back to the squad he was a part of between 2019 and 2021. He has also played for Rising Pune Supergiant.
“New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been traded from Gujarat Titans to Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming TATA IPL 2023. He played 13 matches for Gujarat Titans and picked 12 wickets that included a 4-wicket haul,” the BCCI announced in a statement on Sunday.
“Kolkata Knight Riders have also traded Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans. He was included in the Gujarat Titans squad in the 2022 TATA IPL edition as a replacement for England batter Jason Roy but did not play any game last season,” the statement added.
IPL 2022 for Loki Ferguson and Gurbaz
Ferguson was signed for INR 10 crore at this year’s February auction and was instrumental in the Titans’ maiden season. He took 12 wickets in 13 games, with an economy rate of 8.95 and a best of 4 for 27. In the final, he bowled the fastest ball of the season, measured at 157.3kph, to Jos Buttler.
Ferguson was one of the fastest bowlers in the IPL 2022, routinely topping 150kph in the T20 tournament. Apart from his 12 wickets in the 2022 season, Ferguson also took 13 wickets in just 8 games for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021, where he will return in 2023.
The New Zealand pacer was purchased for a record Rs 10 crore during the IPL 2022 big auction earlier this year, with a starting price of Rs 2 crore. Gurbaz, on the other hand, joined the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans for barely Rs 50 lakh to replace Englishman Jason Roy, who withdrew from the IPL 2022 at the last minute.
