IPL 2024: Here is a look at team-wise player injuries and replacements for the upcoming IPL season.
The IPL 2024 season is set to commence on March 22 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament opener at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
While the ten teams will be back in contention for the title, a string of injuries and a late scramble for replacements will peg a few franchises back in the race. Several international players have already been ruled out of the 17th edition of the IPL due to a spate of injuries or other personal reasons.
Here is a look at team-wise player injuries, ruled out stars and replacements for IPL 2024
Chennai Super Kings
Devon Conway: New Zealand and CSK opener Devon Conway was ruled out of the first half of the IPL 2024 season after suffering a thumb injury during the recent series against Australia.
Conway was the Player of the Match in the final against the Gujarat Titans last year and was the highest run-getter for CSK in 2023, with 672 runs from 16 matches. With an estimated recovery period of eight weeks, Conway’s absence will force CSK to restructure their top-order composition.
Matheesha Pathirana: A hamstring injury during the recent T20I series against Bangladesh ruled the slingy Pathirana out of the series decider for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated that Pathirana had suffered a Grade 1 hamstring injury. The 21-year-old is likely to be out of action for at least four weeks.
Delhi Capitals
Harry Brook: England’s star batter Harry Brook has been out of action since December 2023 and missed his team’s recent tour to India for five Tests. It was later revealed by the 25-year-old that he had time taken out from cricket to spend time with his family after the passing of his grandmother. Brook was roped in by Rs 13.25 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad but endured an underwhelming season with 190 runs in 11 matches. Brook was snapped up by the Capitals at Rs 4 crore for the upcoming season before the England batter decided to pull out of the tournament. DC has yet to name a replacement for Brook.
Lungi Ngidi: South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi was ruled out of the tournament with a week to go for the opener. Ngidi has not played since January after he suffered a left lateral ankle sprain during the T20I series against India. Ngidi was roped in by Delhi in 2022 but has not featured in any match across two seaons. Replacement: Ngidi was replaced by Australia’s young batting sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk who has played two T20Is. He will join the Capitals at his base price of Rs 50 lakh.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Jason Roy: England batter Jason Roy recently pulled out of the IPL 2024 season with Kolkata Knight Riders due to personal reasons. Roy played eight matches for Knight Riders in 2023, scoring 285 runs at a strike rate of 151.60. Roy had previously pulled out from the tournament due to personal reasons in 2020 and 2022. Replacement: KKR replaced Roy with compatriot Phil Salt, who cracked two consecutive T20I hundred against West Indies last December. Salt played for Capitals last year but surprisingly found no takers in the IPL 2024 auction. He will join the Knight Riders at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
Gus Atkinson: England’s upcoming Gus Atkinson decided to pull out of his maiden IPL season after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to withdraw him for workload management concerns. Atkinson has featured in 12 international matches and was roped in by KKR in the IPL 2024 auction for Rs. 1 crore. Replacement: Atkinson was replaced by Dushmantha Chameera in the KKR squad. Unsold at the auction, the Sri Lanka seamer will join KKR at his reserve price of Rs 50 lakh.
Mumbai Indians
Suryakumar Yadav: The swashbuckling batter has yet to be confirmed as a sure-shot starter for Mumbai’s opening IPL 2024 fixture. Suryakumar has been on the road to recovery since December 2023 after suffering a sports hernia for which the Mumbaikar underwent surgery in Germany in January. While he is likely to return during the season, Suryakumar may miss out on the initial matches of the tournament.