IPL 2023: CSK's left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary ruled out of upcoming season

Ahead of the 16th season opener on March 31, the Indian Premier League has again been hit by an unfortunate incident as Chennai Super Kings' key bowler Mukesh Choudhary has been ruled out of the tournament. The MS Dhoni-led side is yet to announce a replacement.

Chennai Super Kings are scheduled to play Gujarat Giants at the latter's home ground on March 31 to kickstart the 16th edition of the cash-rich league. 

Notably, Choudhary becomes the second CSK player to be ruled out ahead of the forthcoming competition after Kiwi speedster Kyle Jamieson.

Mukesh Choudhary sustained a back injury in December 2022 and has since been nursing it at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, hoping to recover before the IPL 2023.

However, CSK's CEO Kasi Viswanathan had earlier said that the franchise didn't have much hope of Mukesh making it to the tournament, although he mentioned that the team was waiting on the promising pacer to regain fitness. 

"We are waiting on Mukesh but we do not have much hope. He was one of our bowling mainstays last year," Vishwanathan had told Cricbuzz.

Mukesh's absence will certainly have a big impact on the MS Dhoni-led side as he was one of the bright spots in the otherwise dark session that Chennai had last year. Playing his maiden IPL in 2022, the 26-year-old picked up 16 wickets.

The four-time champions will initiate the tournament on March 31 along with defending champions Gujarat Giants, as the two teams will lock horns at Ahemdabad's Narendra Modi stadium to bag the first win of the 16th season of the cash-rich league. 

Though he was on the expensive side as he had an economy of 9.31 during IPL 2022, he provided the side with important breakthroughs as and when it was needed. His absence has created a void and the franchise will have to smartly fill the same as they have death bowling woes and it might end up hurting them.