The Unseen Challenges: IPL 2024's Unavailable Players
Today marks the eagerly-awaited start of IPL 2024. Despite the excitement, several teams have experienced setbacks with key players being sidelined due to injuries or personal reasons. Notable players such as Mohammed Shami, Mark Wood, Jason Roy, and Harry Brook have been ruled out. As per the latest information, 13 players are unable to participate for various reasons.
Among the recent additions to the list is Rajasthan Royals' Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa. 'Baby Malinga' Mathisha Pathirana from the Chennai team has also been ruled out.
Zampa has withdrawn due to personal reasons. Last season, he played six matches, taking eight wickets with an average of 23.50. This included a notable three-wicket haul against the Chennai Super Kings.
With Zampa's withdrawal, Rajasthan's bowling attack becomes even more fragile, as they are already missing Prasidh Krishna. Krishna underwent surgery at the end of February for his left proximal quadriceps tendon. Just a day before the start of IPL 2024, Chennai Super Kings received a blow when 'Baby Malinga' Pathirana was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Pathirana, who achieved a special milestone in IPL 2023, had the best economy rate of 8.00 during the death overs (16th to 20th over) after bowling at least 90 balls. His absence could potentially create an opportunity for Bangladesh's left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
The Mumbai Indians faced a setback as Dilshan Madushanka, who was set to make his IPL debut, has been sidelined for the entire season due to injury. In his place, the 17-year-old South African bowler Quenam Mafaka, the leading wicket-taker in the Under-19 World Cup 2024, with 21 wickets in 9 matches, has been included. Mumbai has also replaced injured Jason Behrendorff with Luke Wood.
Here's a glance at the teams affected and the players who won't be part of IPL 2024, some due to personal decisions, others unable to play the initial matches:
Both Mohammad Shami and Matthew Wade from the Gujarat team have been sidelined. Shami is out for the entire season due to an ankle injury and will not be playing in the T20 World Cup either, following his recent surgery in London. Sandeep Warrier replaces him in the Gujarat team. Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade will miss the first 1 or 2 matches, due to his commitment to the domestic Sheffield Shield tournament final. He'll join the team afterward.
Mark Wood from the Lucknow team is also out. He'll be playing in the T20 World Cup in June, so he has withdrawn from the IPL, following the English board's advice on workload management. Wes...
