Umran Malik, once the fiery face of Sunrisers Hyderabad, has now found himself in a different role—one that doesn’t involve charging in with the new ball. The speedster has joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), not to rattle stumps but to mend his own rhythm. Injured and ruled out of the ongoing IPL 2025 season, Umran is undergoing rehabilitation with KKR’s medical and training unit. KKR made the development public via a heartfelt note on their social media: "Umran Malik has joined the squad in Kolkata to continue his rehab and “return to cricket” programme with KKR for the remainder of the season. He’s not joining as an official playing member of the squad, but will work with the team and support staff to get back to his best! Welcome to the family, Umran." ⚡️#UmranMalik has joined the squad in Kolkata to continue his rehab and “return to cricket” programme with KKR for the remainder of the season. He’s not joining as an official playing member of the squad, but will work with the team and support staff to get back to his best!… pic.twitter.com/yAGcxhwTJX — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 25, 2025 Read also: Harshal Outsmarts Brevis, Mendis Stuns with Flying Catch The long road back to fire and pace The 24-year-old pacer, known for clocking speeds near 155 kmph, was bought by KKR for ₹75 lakhs during last year’s mega auction in Jeddah after SRH let him go. While hopes were high, injury derailed his campaign. Left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya was later brought in as his replacement. Malik had burst onto the scene in 2021 for SRH and stunned everyone with his raw pace. His peak came in 2022, scalping 22 wickets in just 14 games. But inconsistency followed. The next two seasons weren’t kind—injuries, form dip, and limited game time saw his stock fall. Internationally, he’s already donned the India cap—8 T20Is and 10 ODIs, with 24 wickets in total. But for a pacer built on rhythm and explosiveness, rehab isn’t just about healing—it’s about finding the lost groove. KKR currently sit seventh on the points table with six points and a NRR of +0.212. They face Punjab Kings next at Eden Gardens on April 26. Umran won’t feature, but his presence might just lift spirits—and perhaps remind everyone that comebacks often begin from the sidelines.