The 2012 and 2014 Champions of Indian Premier League (IPL) will be missing the top key allrounder Andre Russell in the 10th edition. Andre Russell has been banned for 1 year for violating anti-doping whereabout regulations.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has now replaced the suspended West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell with Zimbabwe-born New Zealand international cricketer Colin de Grandhomme for the upcoming 10th season of VIVO Indian Premier League.

De Grandhomme played for Zimbabwe in the 2004 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh. His father Laurence played for Zimbabwe before they gained Test status. De Grandhomme made his international debut on 11 February 2012 for New Zealand in a Twenty20 International against his former country, Zimbabwe. His ODI debut came against South Africa in March 2012 in which he made 36 off 36 balls before being run-out by Albie Morkel. In November 2016 he was named in New Zealand's Test squad for their series against Pakistan and debuted in the first Test match on 17 November.

Azhar Ali of Pakistan became his first Test wicket. He got a five wicket haul in his maiden innings of Test match cricket. He won the man of the match award in his first test match and became fourth New Zealand player to do so.

Colin De Grandhomme has featured in 6 Tests, 9 ODIs and 8 T20 Internationals for New Zealand so far. De Grandhomme made his Test debut for New Zealand in late 2016 and marked the occasion with a six-wicket haul.

Kolkata Knight Riders will meet Gujarat Lions in their opening game on April 7 at Rajkot.