'I would love to play for KKR Again': Saurabh Dubey eyes Mastering new Skills ahead of SMAT, hails Vidarbha's 'Healthy' competition | Exclusive

Some cricketing journeys are defined by instant success, while others are shaped by patience, setbacks and the determination to keep knocking on the door. Saurabh Dubey's story belongs to the latter. From the quiet cricketing landscape of Wardha to the demanding world of the Indian Premier League, the Vidarbha left-arm pacer has travelled a road that has tested both his talent and temperament.

Standing tall at six feet five inches, Dubey first announced himself as a promising fast-bowling prospect with impressive performances for India at the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.

An IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad followed, but an injury denied him the opportunity to make his debut. Years later, another opportunity arrived, this time with Kolkata Knight Riders. His journey to the IPL has been anything but straightforward, but Dubey's persistence has kept the dream alive. Now, with Vidarbha and KKR providing the platform, he is looking to turn promise into a lasting presence in Indian cricket. In IPL 2026, Dubey came in as a replacement and did decently for Knight Riders.

Mastering the Skillset is the Aim: Saurabh Dubey

Fast forward six months, Dubey awaits his next competitive opportunity, which is set to arrive with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was one of the standby players for Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy squad, and despite not getting an opportunity, the player tells MyKhel that the preparations continue.

"I am getting ready. There were players in the red-ball format ahead in the pecking order. But I hope to perform in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy."

A player who has a bag of tricks up his sleeve, Saurabh wants to hone new skills, and as the season T20 season approaches, the Vidarbha pacer admits to his efforts to improve his skill set as a bowler.

"I am trying to work on my variations. There are a lot of things I am looking to improve and want to master some skills ahead of the new season."

Saurabh Dubey hails Vidarbha Team

Dubey had a breakthrough in his career with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but injury halted his opportunity. He was subsequently out for a couple of years and lost valuable time, but despite that, there were learnings. And he has improvized them into the domestic setup in recent months. With Vidarbha, the player has been among the competition, but he hails the firepower within the squad and the healthy competition among the host of bowlers.

"We[Vidarbha] are definitely a good side, with quality in both batting and bowling. Our preparation begins early, even during the rainy season, and we follow a structured approach. We have players like Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey who have featured in the Ranji Trophy, along with four players who have represented India. We have the depth and skill to win any championship. There is healthy competition among our bowlers, and we prepare systematically for every skill and fitness requirement."

'I would like to play for KKR again'

Saurabh had an opportunity with Kolkata Knight Riders. After a successful trial, he came in as a replacement. The opportunity came later in the season but when it came, the bowler did decently for them. In an already depleted season, he had a decent show with 5 wickets in four matches, and four of his scalps were Jos Buttler (GT), Suryakumar Yadav (MI), Rohit Sharma (MI), and David Miller (DC).

With a couple of weeks to go until the IPL 2027 retention deadline, the player admits the 'amazing' experience with the Knight Riders.

"I had an amazing experience with KKR. It was special. I don't know whether I will be retained, but I would like to play for KKR again."