From key players to rising stars, injuries threaten to derail title dreams for these three IPL teams
The high-octane world of the IPL is a gruelling battlefield, where not only do teams battle it out on the pitch, but they also constantly fight to keep their players fit. This season, even as the playoffs loom large, several teams find themselves grappling with a relentless tide of injuries that threaten to derail their title aspirations. Here, we take a closer look at three franchises who have been particularly unlucky on the injury front:
The five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), have been struck a cruel blow by injuries right from the start. Even before the tournament began, they lost a crucial cog in their batting line-up - Devon Conway - to a thumb injury. This forced them to rely on a last-minute replacement, Richard Gleeson.
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As the tournament progressed, the injury woes continued. Matheesha Pathirana, a vital part of their bowling attack, missed a match due to a niggle, throwing their bowling plans into disarray. The latest casualty is the dependable Deepak Chahar, who walked off the field clutching his hamstring after bowling just two deliveries against Punjab Kings.
This is a significant setback, especially considering Chahar's previous injury struggles this season. With the playoffs approaching, CSK's chances of replicating their past glories might heavily depend on the fitness of their remaining players.
The Delhi Capitals (DC), led by the explosive Rishabh Pant, haven't been spared the injury curse either. Before the tournament began, they lost the promising Harry Brook due to personal reasons, forcing them to find a replacement fast bowler in Lizaad Williams.
Further bad news came with the unavailability of Lungi Ngidi, a key pacer, due to an ankle injury. DC managed to find a gem in his replacement, Jake Fraser-McGurk, but another blow came with Robin Minz being ruled out after a bike accident.
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The Delhi Capitals have announced all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk as the replacement for Lungi Ngidi before the IPL
However, the biggest setback for DC was the loss of Mitchell Marsh for the entire tournament due to a hamstring injury. Marsh, the Australian T20 captain, was a vital part of their batting balance, and his absence has created a significant void in the middle order. DC will need to find a way to plug this gap if they want to challenge for the title.
The newly formed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) haven't had a smooth run with injuries either. Their pre-tournament plans were disrupted with the unavailability of the express fast bowler Mark Wood, who opted out citing workload management concerns.
Shamar Joseph, brought in as his replacement, hasn't quite lived up to expectations. Adding to their woes was the absence of David Willey, their left-arm pacer, due to fatigue. Matt Henry, who replaced Willey, has provided some much-needed firepower, but their pace attack remains a concern.
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Mayank Yadav is the new find in this season
LSG's biggest setback, however, came in the form of Mayank Yadav, the swashbuckling opener. After a dream start, bagging two consecutive Player of the Match awards, Yadav was sidelined with a lower abdominal strain.
He did make a comeback later, but the discomfort persisted, forcing him out once again. Mayank's absence leaves a big hole at the top of the order, and his return seems highly unlikely, dealing a potentially fatal blow to LSG's title hopes.
These are just a few examples of how injuries can turn the tide in the IPL. As the remaining matches unfold, all teams will be hoping to stay healthy and field their strongest possible line-ups in the crucial playoff battles.
