The IPL 2023 is less than two weeks away and most of the franchises are fretting over the fitness of some of their star players and pondering over the possible replacements of those who have already been ruled out of the tournament.
IPL 2023: The 16th edition of the IPL will start on March 31
There are half-a-dozen players who are confirmed to miss the IPL 2023, while about another half-a-dozen are battling niggles and injuries sustained recently that might see them miss a few games.
Here is one biggest injury blow that the teams are suffering from ahead of IPL 2023:
Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah
MI have been handed two massive blows – fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Jhye Richardson are ruled out due to injuries; these blows are in the pace department, something that was their weak link last season when they finished 10th in the points table.
Though MI have the boosting of Jofra Archer, missing Bumrah (long-time back injury) and Jhye Richardson (hamstring injury suffered in the BBL) sets them back on their aim to return to winning ways.
Chennai Super Kings: Ben Stokes
After Kyle Jamieson, who was bought for 1 crore in the IPL 2023 auction by CSK, was confirmed to miss the tournament due to a back stress fracture, CSK are sweating over the fitness of their 16.5 crore auction signing – Ben Stokes.
England Test skipper Ben Stokes recently picked up a knee injury on the New Zealand tour. This is giving CSK and their fans sleepless nights. While Stokes has confirmed his participation in the IPL 2023, suggesting that he’s confident to recover in time, the ECB will also remind him to be careful about his fitness given the Ireland Test and the all-important Ashes series is slated soon after the IPL 2023 concludes.
Sisanda Magala has been signed as Jamieson’s replacement; CSK will be praying that it doesn’t come to finding Stokes’ replacement.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer
KKR are stressing over the fitness and availability of their captain Shreyas Iyer, who is currently at the NCA due to the recurrence of his back injury that forced him to miss 6 white-ball matches and the first Test against Australia.
Iyer played in the next 3 Tests but didn’t come out to bat in the 4th Test as he felt severe pain in his back.
KKR have been told to wait for 10 days as Iyer does his best to recover in time for the start of the IPL 2023. But, KKR will want to keep themselves ready with captaincy replacement options and backups if Iyer misses the initial matches or the entire tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Will Jacks
England all-rounder Will Jacks has been ruled out of the IPL 2023 due to an injury he suffered in Bangladesh and RCB have replaced him with New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell, who has so far had an impressive T20I career.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also under an injury cloud and has still not recovered completely from the leg injury that has forced him to miss all the action so far this year. With the Ashes in June, Australia might ask Hazlewood to consider his IPL 2023 season carefully.
Rajasthan Royals: Prasidh Krishna
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of IPL 2023 due to a stress fracture injury. RR are yet to finalize his replacement.
Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant, and now Anrich Nortje
No bigger loss for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023 than their captain Pant because of his car accident in December.
DC are also severely hurt by more injuries: after losing Rishabh Pant, the fitness of fast bowler Anrich Nortje and keeper-batter Sarfaraz Khan are under concern.
Nortje missed the second Test against West Indies due to “mild groin discomfort,” but it has been learned that the injury could force him to miss initial matches for DC while Sarfaraz, who was touted to take the gloves in Pant’s absence, sustained a finger injury and is likely to miss the entire season.
DC are yet to announce Pant’s replacement player, though they have confirmed Warner as their skipper for IPL 2023.
Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow
PBKS have been given a big blow as Jonny Bairstow is set to be ruled out of the IPL 2023 as Bairstow’s leg injury, which he picked up in September on a golf course, has taken longer than expected time to heal.
PBKS are still waiting for medical clearance from ECB on Bairstow. However, with the crucial Ashes series lined up straight after the IPL 2023, the ECB might tell Bairstow to pull out from the IPL this year.
There is no injury news from Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, and Lucknow Super Giants camp as of now.
