Some quality batting and bowling will be missed from this year’s IPL with a few ace cricketers either ruled out for quite some time with injuries or are yet to recover completely. The Telegraph lists some of them:
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
The trademark toe-crushers and other variations will not be seen as Jasprit Bumrah is out of the entire IPL 2023. The recurring back injury continues to trouble the India and Mumbai Indians pace spearhead, who has been sidelined since last September after featuring in the home T20I series against Australia.
Mumbai will hope English quick Jofra Archer, making a comeback in this IPL after missing the last two editions, lives up to the expectations and fills up the void left by Bumrah.
■ Overall T20: Matches 210 Wkts 256 BB 5/10 5wkts 1 Eco: 7.04
■ IPL: Matches 120 Wkts 145 BB 5/10 5wkts 1 Eco 7.39
■ Replacement: Yet to be announced
Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
A horrific car accident last December not just hurt Rishabh Pant’s knee badly alongside causing other injuries, but also ruled the India keeper-batsman out for an indefinite period. India have already felt Pant’s absence, especially with the bat in both the recent home Tests and ODIs against Australia.
Pant had done a decent job as captain of Delhi Capitals. The team would miss not just his batting but also their skipper’s encouraging words for bowlers with his constant chirping from behind the stumps.
■ Overall T20: Matches 179Runs 4354 50s 22 100s 2HS 128 n.o. Avg 31.32 SR 144.84 Cts 107 St 29
■ IPL: Matches 98 Runs 2838 50s 15 100s 1 HS 128 n.o. Avg 34.61 SR 147.97 Cts 64 St 18
■Replacement: Yet to be announced
Jonny Bairstow (Punjab Kings)
A left ankle dislocation after slipping while playing golf has kept Jonny Bairstow out of action since last September. He’s going through the process of recovery and isn’t fit enough to be a part of the IPL for Punjab Kings.
Jonny Bairstow. File photo
Maintaining a strike rate close to 100 or more in Test cricket is a tough job. But that’s something Bairstow was able to do quite consistently last year. It only underlines how devastating he could then be in the shortest format.
■ Overall T20: Matches 180 Runs 4304 50s 25 100s 3 HS 114 Avg 30.52 SR 138.08 Cts 101 St 15
■IPL: Matches 39 Runs 1291 50s 9 100s 1 HS 114 Avg 35.86 SR 142.65 Cts 20 St 4
■Replacement: Matthew Short (Australia)
Pat Cummins
Last November, Pat Cummins had announced his decision to skip this year’sIPL citing a heavy international schedule, which includes the Ashes in England and the ODI World Cup in India later this year.
■ Overall T20: Matches 128 Wkts 143 BB 4/16 Eco 7.98
■ IPL: Matches 42 Wkts 45 BB 4/34 Eco 8.54
* Quicks Kyle Jamieson (Chennai Super Kings) and Jhye Richardson (Mumbai Indians) have also been ruled out of the IPL due to back and hamstring injuries, respectively. Young pacer Prasidh Krishna (Rajasthan Royals) continues to remain sidelined owing to a stress fracture suffered last year and has been replaced by seasoned campaigner Sandeep Sharma.
STILL IN DOUBT
Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)
The KKR captain is recovering from a lower-back injury and while he is yet to be ruled out of the entire IPL, he’s out for a good part of the tournament at least.
■ Overall T20: Matches 197 Runs 5217 50s 33 100s 2 HS 147 Avg 32 SR 130.29
■ IPL: Matches 101 Runs 2776 50s 19 HS 96 Avg 31.55 SR 125.38
Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Achilles tendonitis continues to bug the leading Australia pacer and he will likely miss the first phase of the IPL. His availability depends on how his recovery progresses.
Josh Hazlewood. File photo
■ Overall T20: Matches 93 Wkts 124 BB 4/12 Eco 7.57
■IPL: Matches 24 Wkts 32 BB 4/25 Eco 8.02
* RCB batsman Rajat Patidar is recovering at the NCA after sustaining a heel injury, and so are left-arm quicks Mukesh Choudhary (Chennai Super Kings) and Mohsin Khan (Lucknow Super Giants) from back and shoulder injuries, respectively.
