The new season of IPL has not even started yet and many teams have started getting setbacks one by one. While defending champion Royal Challengers Bangalore will start the season without their star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, Sunrisers Hyderabad will also play the first few matches of the tournament without their captain Pat Cummins. Although there is a possibility of the return of these two legends, the situation of some other teams has become more serious because their players are out of the entire season. Even in a single day, there has been news of three players being out, whose total salary is Rs 22.4 crore.
Just 9 days before the 19th season of IPL starts from March 28. Chennai Super KingsKolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals received bad news within 24 hours. On Thursday, March 19, the news of Chennai Super Kings fast bowler Nathan Ellis being out of the tournament came. The franchise did not announce it officially but CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan told the media that due to a hamstring injury, he will not be able to play this season.
Rajasthan Royals got a shock
While the news of Nathan Ellis (2 crore) being out was revealed by the franchise official himself, the injury to two other key fast players has also come to light in different media reports. ESPN-Cricinfo report has revealed that England’s star all-rounder Sam Curran will also not be able to play this season due to injury. Karan has suffered a groin injury, from which he will not be able to recover in time. Rajasthan traded him to CSK after last season for Rs 2.4 crore. But he will not be able to step on the field for the new franchise.
Another bad news for KKR
At the same time, Kolkata Knight Riders, who were already struggling with the shortage of their fast bowlers, have also suffered a big blow. According to the report of Sri Lankan media, pacer Matisha Pathirana, who was bought by KKR for Rs 18 crore, has also not been fit yet and in view of this, he has not received the No Objection Certificate (NoC) from Sri Lanka Cricket. It has been told in the report that Patirana could not pass his fitness test, due to which the board took this decision. In such a situation, it seems almost difficult for them to participate in the tournament. Patirana suffered this injury during the T20 World Cup.
A connection in the injuries of all three players
An interesting coincidence regarding these three players is that all three were associated with Chennai Super Kings in the last season. While Sam Curran was traded by CSK to Rajasthan this year, Patirana was also released by the franchise, after which KKR bought him. Of these, only Ellis was there, who was in Chennai’s squad this season also after last season.