The 14th season of the Indian Premier League has begun and has as always started with a bang. Teams fight it out for an early foothold at the top end of the table, as some struggle to find their rhythm. One of the major setbacks for struggles is the unavailability of players due to injuries or opting out due to personal reasons. Today we take a look at the list of players who will not be participating in the Indian Premier League 2021.
Dale Steyn
South African legend and the veteran fast bowler is one of the most prominent pace bowlers of his time. But nearing the end of his career, he continues to be not as effective as in his prime. Playing his trade of Royal Challengers Bangalore in previous years, he has struggled for wickets and to contain runs. The 37-year-old had a forgetful season last year playing only 3 matches, claiming 3 wickets with an economy of 11.40. Hence the Proteas bowler chose to skip this year's IPL.
Jofra Archer
One of the leading players in the shortest format of the game. Rajasthan Royals were handed a huge blow as the English fast bowler was ruled out of the tournament due to multiple injuries to his right hand and was set to undergo surgery. Some good news to come is that of his successful surgery and being cleared for light training. But the Rajasthan management will be wary of bringing the English bowler in too soon and hamper his progress.
Shreyas Iyer
Delhi Capital’s skipper and mainstay batsman Shreyas Iyer is set to miss the whole of IPL 2021 after sustaining a massive injury to his shoulder during the One day International series between India and England. The Indian batsman had an awkward fall while fielding and was immediately rushed to the hospital for scans writhing in pain. The absence of his presence in the batting lineup will be a huge hole to fill for the Delhi management while Rishabh Pant has been named the stand-in captain.
Josh Philippe
The Australian batsman had a mighty impressive season in the last edition of the Indian Premier League playing as an opener for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, he has continued to impress in the Australian Big Bash League 2021 having a very successful year. However, the young batsman has pulled out his name from this year's edition citing personal reasons, and young kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman Finn Allen has been named as his replacement.
Mitchell Marsh
Sunrisers Hyderabad was the bearer of bad news at the beginning of IPL 2021 as their Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh opted out of playing in this year's IPL. The main reason for opting out cited was his inability to spend a long time inside the biosecure bubble. Sunrisers Hyderabad has found an equally good replacement in Jason Roy, who is in form and had a very good series in the white ball tournaments between India and England.
Josh Hazelwood
The Australian premier paceman Josh Hazelwood was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad last year. Though he has decided to skip this edition of the IPL due to constant bubbles and quarantines from the last year or so in these covid-induced times. Currently, part of the New South Wales squad in the Australian domestic one-day matches circuit, keeping his workload in mind he has decided against this year's IPL to spend more quality time with his family. Meanwhile, his compatriot Jason Behrendorff has been named his replacement.
Ishant Sharma
Delhi Capitals head coach Rickey Ponting has stated that Ishant Sharma has been facing a heel niggle that is keeping him out of the playing eleven. The Indian test paceman has missed the first two games of the tournament so far and will continue to be on the sidelines with no return date set as of such. In the meantime, Avesh Khan is the stand-in replacement in the playing eleven who has been bowling exceptionally providing early breakthroughs.
Though injury means we do not get to see the stars we love in action, it is also an opportunity to see someone new who can rise up to the occasion and capture our imagination. Let us know who are the players you will miss the most and whether the replacements roped in are adequate enough.
