Even before the start of IPL 2023, there is some bad news for cricket fans. Several brilliant players are set to miss out on the annual league owing to injury. However, there are numerous other stars waiting to advertise their wares. Cricket buffs would surely be looking forward to watching the likes of Sam Curran, Cameron Green and Ben Stokes. All of these players caused a bidding war at the IPL auction. Meanwhile, we must mourn the absence of the following stars:
Rishabh Pant
The young skipper of Delhi Capitals met with a horrific road accident in December 2022. Pant is reported to have fallen asleep at the wheel, while driving a car on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway. Following the crash, the car caught fire, and the cricketer was fortunate to escape by breaking the windshield. Hospitalised after the incident, Pant is since undergoing treatment. The accident has ruled out Pant from participation in IPL 2023.
The southpaw’s absence is a double blow for DC. The franchise will miss both an explosive middle order batsman and a regular skipper. In Pant’s absence, David Warner has been named captain of DC for the upcoming season. Warner could also double as DC’s wicketkeeper.
Jasprit Bumrah
A back injury has kept Jasprit Bumrah away from cricket since September 22. The player, who recently underwent surgery in New Zealand, has been ruled out of IPL 2023. He will require at least six months to get back to cricket action. In fact, the pacer may not recover in time to represent India in the ODI World Cup 2023. Bumrah’s absence is likely to hurt Mumbai Indians very badly, given their thin bowling resources.
Fortunately for MI, Joffra Archer appears to be back to his wicket taking form. England fast bowler Archer is another paceman that injury has kept away from cricket in the last year. In the IPL auction, MI invested heavily in Aussie allrounder Cameron Green. Green presents MI without a good new ball bowling option. However, other than Archer and Green, the MI bowling includes such players as Hrithik Shokeen, Arjun Tendulkar, Kumar Kartikeya. In the circumstances, MI could be forced to play a past-his-prime Piyush Chawla.
Jhye Richardson
In the absence of Bumrah, MI had few back ups to replace the star bowler. The main choice among them was Jhye Richardson who has represented Australia since February 2017. However, there is more bad news for the franchise. Richardson has been ruled out of IPL 2023. An old hamstring issue resurfaced when Richardson was playing club cricket, about a week ago. The paceman has undergone surgery and is also likely to miss the Ashes series in England in June-July 2023.
MI may want to replace Richardson with one of three overseas fast bowlers who remained unsold in the IPL auction. England seamer Chris Jordan could be their first choice. Apart from Jordan, Riley Meredith and Tom Curran are also available options.
Will Jacks
England all-rounder Will Jacks has been ruled out of the IPL. Jacks bought in the auction by Royal Challengers Bangalore was injured while fielding against Bangladesh in a recent ODI. Jacks began his international cricket career recently, representing England in all three formats. He played his first T20I and test matches versus Pakistan. He made his ODI debut on England’s tour of Bangladesh. Jacks was not expected to feature in RCB’s first eleven. In fact, the franchise intended to use him as an injury backup for Glenn Maxwell.
RCB are said to be looking at New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell as a possible replacement. Bracewell who has never played IPL remained unsold at the IPL auction in December 2022. Among RCB’s other choices is Will Jacks’ England team-mate Reece Topley. Topley, who was bought by RCB in the auction, was benched due to injury during England’s recent white-ball tour of Bangladesh.
Conclusion
It’s a pity that we will not see the likes of Pant and Bumrah in IPL 2023. However, the IPL has always thrown up new sensations every season. Who will it be this year? Check out our article on the best cricket betting sites to be prepared for the 2023 IPL season.
