Vivo IPL 2021: New Zealand pacer Tim Southee to join KKR for the remainder of Vivo IPL 2021

Vivo IPL 2021: The two times IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed New Zealand pacer Tim Southee for the remaining 31 matches of the Vivo IPL 2021. The franchise officials confirmed the development on Thursday, 26th August.

Southee will replace ace Australian pacer Pat Cummins in the KKR squad who had earlier pulled back from participating in the second phase of the IPL 2021. Cummins and his wife are expecting their first child during the IPL.

The New Zealand pacer has been a consistent name in the IPL for straight-six seasons, however, went unsold in the IPL 2020 auctions. His recent trade happens to be with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2019 where he bowled with an economy of 13 in three matches.

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New Zealand pacer Tim Southee to join KKR for the remainder of Vivo IPL 2021.

Southee, besides RCB, has played his trade for Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The pacer has scalped 28 wickets in 40 matches at an economy of 8.47.

"Tim has been a strong player and has been the spearhead of the New Zealand team. In the UAE conditions, we hope he will be very effective," a KKR official said.

Tim's exact contract value is not known as of now. Pat Cummins was signed by KKR for a whopping INR 15.5 crores in the IPL 2020 auctions and was retained in the IPL 2021.

The Shahrukh Khan owned KKR had a terrible and forgetful outing in the first phase of the IPL 2021. The team only managed to win two matches out of seven they played. KKR is placed in the penultimate position in the points table.

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