Hyderabad: Rapole Sai Santosh: Rising cricketer Rapole Sai Santosh has been selected as a Reserved Net Bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2026 season.
According to the official joining letter issued by the team management, Sai Rapole has been offered the position of Net Bowler for a one-year duration with the franchise. His role will involve assisting the KKR batting unit during practice sessions and contributing to the team’s preparations throughout the tournament.
The appointment is scheduled to commence on 14 May 2026 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.
This achievement marks an important milestone in Sai Rapole’s cricketing journey, providing him with an opportunity to work closely with professional players and coaching staff in one of the world’s biggest T20 leagues, the Indian Premier League.
The joining letter was issued by Aramis de Silva, Assistant Coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, welcoming Sai Rapole to the squad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
Rapole Sai Santosh:
Rising cricketer Rapole Sai Santosh has been selected as a Reserved Net Bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026.
Sai Santosh earned national recognition after securing sponsorship support from A.K. 47 Sports on September 25, 2025.
The sponsorship was offered after his impressive performances in the Arunachal Premier League and consistent progress in domestic cricket.
Originally from LB Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, Santosh transformed his cricketing journey through determination, discipline, and hard work.
He represented Telangana in SGFI Under-14 and Under-17 tournaments, showcasing his talent at an early age.
Santosh also played for Hyderabad U-16 ‘B’ team in the prestigious Vijay Merchant Trophy.
At the Under-23 level, he participated in the BCCI Men’s U-23 ‘A’ Trophy, proving his ability in competitive domestic cricket.
His cricketing growth earned him an invitation to the Arunachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy training camp, strengthening his first-class cricket ambitions.
Santosh was selected for the Arunachal Pradesh Under-23 squad for the 2024–25 BCCI Men’s State-A Trophy.
To pursue better opportunities, he moved from Hyderabad to Arunachal Pradesh, where his fast bowling and all-round abilities impressed selectors.
He began playing cricket at the age of 12 under the guidance of coaches K. Vinod Kumar and BAG Walter in Hyderabad.
An international training stint in London helped Santosh improve his technical and professional cricketing skills.
Apart from cricket, Santosh is passionate about travel, long-distance bike riding, food exploration, and current affairs.
At just 21 years old, Rapole Sai Santosh is emerging as one of the promising young cricketers to watch in Indian cricket.
