Indian dealt a blow just days ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 opener as their recent recruit from Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka suffered a hamstring injury on international duty during the ongoing ODI series in Bangladesh.
MI had bought the Sri Lankan left-arm pacer for Rs 4.60 Crore in the IPL 2024 auction in December 2023 following his great run of form in the year, including brilliant performances at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
However, now just a week before the Mumbai Indians led by Hardik Pandya travel to Ahmedabad for their IPL 2024 opener against Gujarat Titans, the five-time champions have been dealt with a injury blow.
On Sunday (March 17), Sri Lanka Cricket released a statement, confirming the injury picked up by Madushanka, but did not mention the extent of the hamstring issue. A grade 1 injury will see him make a swift recovery, but anything other than that will see him miss action for most part of the season.
“Dilshan Madushanka will not further take part in the ongoing tour as the bowler will return to start rehabilitation work after suffering an injury during the 2nd ODI,” SLC posted on X before the final ODI vs Bangladesh on Monday (March 18).
“Madushanka, who left the field during the second ODI while bowling, has suffered a left hamstring injury, as confirmed by an MRI scan performed on the player.”
While his return date is not known at this point, it is highly likely that Madushanka will be unavailable for MI at the start of the season. MI also sweat on the fitness of another new signing in South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee, who suffered an injury late last year during the Test series against India.
The South African pacer is already in India, where he has been placed in the care of the Mumbai Indians medical staff as he recovers from the groin injury. He also could be unavailable for the first few matches.
This leaves MI with Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thusara, Akash Madhwal, Arjun Tendulkar, Jason Behrendorff as the pace options along with skipper Hardik and Romaria Shepherd the pace-bowling all-round options for the first few matches.
MI may name a replacement for Madushanka if the injury is worse and the pacer can’t recover in time to feature in the upcoming season of IPL as the franchise aim to win their first title since 2020.
Mark Hoover Mykhel
source: mykhel.com