The IPL 2023 is into its business end of the tournament having entered the last week of the league phase stage. So far, only one team – Gujarat Titans – has secured a playoff spot while two teams – Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad – have been eliminated from the playoff race. Rest 7 teams are still in the fray for the remaining 3 playoffs spot.
The Indian Premier League 2023 has some of the biggest names in the world cricket. However, a few of those won’t be part of the playoffs even if their team qualifies for the final stage of the tournament.
Here are 3 big players who will not be available for the IPL 2023 playoffs:
Ben Stokes
Bought for a hefty sum of INR 16.25 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, Ben Stokes has only featured in the first 2 matches for CSK this season and is unlikely to add to it now.
CSK have only one match remaining in the group stage, after which Stokes is expected to leave for England to prepare for the Ireland Test match, starting June 1.
Thus, the England Test captain Ben Stokes will not be available for the Indian Premier League 2023 playoffs even if CSK qualifies.
In 2 knocks, Stokes scored 15 runs and bowled 1 over for 18 runs, before being sidelined due to a couple of injuries. After, even as he attained fitness, Stokes couldn’t get into CSK’s XI.
Mark Wood
Early into the Indian Premier League 2023 tournament, after his five-wicket haul vs Delhi Capitals, Mark Wood was in the Purple Cap race. However, constant niggles and illness meant he had to miss a number of league phase matches and now he will not be available for the playoffs as he will return to England for the birth of his child.
Wood has 11 wickets in 4 matches and last played on April 15th. He and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May.
Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer’s debut IPL season for the Mumbai Indians has not gone according to the desires of the fast bowler and the franchise. Coming on from a long-term injury layoff, but having shown great promise in the first couple of months of 2023, Jofra Archer featured in 5 matches, picking up only 2 wickets and leaking runs at an economy of 9.5.
He missed the rest of the matches due to his elbow injury hurting him again. And now the fast bowler has flown back home to focus on his rehabilitation. Mumbai Indians are in shot for a playoff spot but will be without Archer. Chris Jordan has been roped in as Archer’s replacement for the remainder of the season.
