IPL 2023 is set to begin on 31 March 2023. This year 10 teams will be in contention for the IPL trophy. With the IPL Auction in December 2022, there were predictions being made on possible qualifiers this season. But a long list of injured players and many others to join have changed the dynamics this season. Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians are the most affected teams this season.
Injured players before IPL 2023
Delhi Capitals had the worst beginning to this season. Just after the IPL 2023 auction had been concluded, Rishabh Pant was injured in a horrific car accident. Delhi had a missing batsman in their squad and had to scramble to find a new captain this season. Rishabh Pant is expected to be out for a long period of time.
Delhi will have a new captain this season in the form of David Warner. It will be interesting to see how Warner and Ponting tackle these challenges and perform in IPL 2023. Anrich Nortje, the key pace bowler in the DC squad, has been ruled out due to injuries.
Mumbai Indians, the five times champion team, was all set to unleash a fatal bowling attack with Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer and Jhye Richardson this season. But a double blow in the bowling department has put this team in trouble. Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t fully recovered from his back injury and will not be a part of IPL 2023. Jhye Richarson has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Both the bowler had undergone surgery and are expected to miss action for a long time.
Kyle Jamieson, the kiwi pace bowler is another player to miss IPL this season. He was roped in by Chennai Super Kings, but will be out due to back stress fracture. Ben Stokes was bought by CSK for a whopping 16.25 Crores for this season. But uncertainty regarding the player being a part of IPL 2023 due to his knee injury concerns was a major disappointment for CSK. In the recent updates, it is quite possible we might be seeing Ben Stokes this season. Stokes is expected to leave IPL 2023 early to prepare for Ashes 2023.
Punjab Kings is looking for a batsman replacement for Jonny Bairstow. Earlier, Bairstow had broken his left leg and dislocated his ankle and will be missing action this season.
Royal Challengers Bangalore had a similar problem with a lookout for a player to replace Will Jacks due to his muscle injury. New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has been named as his replacement. Prasidh Krishna is suffering from a stress fracture injury and will not be seen in IPL 2023. This will be a big blow to the Rajasthan bowling line-up.
Kolkata Knight Riders haven’t been able to stay away from this affair of injuries. Shreyas Iyer will probably miss the tournament due to a recurring back injury.
Other players who have been injured but there is an uncertainty if they will be seen in IPL 2023 include Reece Topley and Josh Hazlewood. Both players are set to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Confirmed List of Injured players
- Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
- Anrich Nortje (Delhi Capitals)
- Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
- Jofra Archer (Mumbai Indians)
- Jhye Richardson (Mumbai Indians)
- Kyle Jamieson (Chennai Super Kings)
- Jonny Bairstow (Punjab Kings)
- Prasidh Krishna (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
- Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
- Reece Topley (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
-
Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
The long list of injuries has changed the strengths and weaknesses for each franchise as compared to their team on paper after the IPL auction in December 2022. IPL is a long tournament and injuries are a part of this sport. Many players injured before the tournament begins and injuries to come as the season proceeds, franchises will have a challenge to maintain a full squad to play in the playoffs and final.
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