IPL 2019: Players who are set to miss the whole season

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to roll with the defending Champions CSK hosting RCB on 23rd March. The IPL has always been associated with talent, opportunity, money and even Bollywood but in the past few years, a cloud of injuries has given headaches to the team owners. The international schedule is becoming rigorous with every passing year and therefore the boards are wary about the fitness of their star players.

The likes of Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Mustafizur Rahman pulled out of the auction citing to the World Cup preparations and the English players are expected to leave before the playoffs. But some teams have been jolted even before the start of the tournament because of the injury to their important players who are ruled out for the entire season.

Here we look at the players who will miss the IPL 2019:

1. Shivam Mavi (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Whether it was Mitchell Starc last year or Shivam Mavi this year, withdrawal of a lead bowler days before the tourney begins will take a hit on the KKR’s bowling department. The under-19 pace sensation is known for hurling down deliveries over 140kph with consistency. KKR roped him in for a heavy amount of Rs 3 crores before last season.

Statistically, it wasn’t an IPL to remember as he could manage to pick only 5 wickets in 9 games and conceded runs at above 9 an over. But his pace and control took notice of everyone. Unfortunately, Mavi will miss IPL 2019 owing to a stress fracture in his back. He has been ruled out for four to six months. Karnataka leg-spinner, KC Cariappa is announced as a replacement for the 20-year-old pacer. Cariappa, who was released by Kings XI Punjab, is now back to the franchise he started his IPL career with.

2. Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The right-arm fast bowler is what Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s profile says. He is one of the under-19 heroes for India. Born in Barmer, Rajasthan, he impressed everyone with his raw pace and movement in the U19 World Cup last year. KKR bought Nagarkoti in the IPL 2018 auction at a whopping amount of INR 3.2 crores.

Just like his teammate, he will be missing out on the IPL because of a back injury and will need another two to three months to recover. KKR have signed the Kerala medium pacer Sandeep Warrier as his replacement. Warrier picked 8 wickets in 6 games at an economy of 5.8 in Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. He was also the leading wicket-taker for Kerala in the Ranji trophy last season. Nagarkoti was ruled out of IPL last year as well, and his wait for maiden IPL cap continues.

3. Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings)

Lungi Ngidi made great noises in the Test series against India which prompted CSK to buy him ahead of IPL 2018. He was very impressive last year picking 11 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 6. But Ngidi has been ruled out of this year’s IPL as he suffered an injury in the fifth ODI versus Sri Lanka.

He has sustained a Grade II muscle strain injury and will need up to four weeks of rest before undergoing rehabilitation ahead of the World Cup. This has effectively confirmed that he will miss the entire season. CSK face this as a kick in the teeth just a few days before the commencement of the gala-event.

Ngidi was supposed to be the spearhead of their bowling attack, as they had already released Mark Wood prior to the auction. He was the only genuine overseas fast bowler in the squad. With Shane Watson’s and Dwayne Bravo’s diminishing prowess with the ball, the bowling department now lays in the hands of all-rounder David Willey and an Indian cluster of right-arm medium pacers which is far too inexperienced.

4. Anrich Nortje (Kolkata Knight Riders)

KKR’s pace bowling now looks scattered in pieces. They have been shaken down by an injury to another pacer. This time it’s South Africa’s Anrich Nortje who will have to defer his IPL dream. Nortje, who was bought for his base price of INR 20 lakhs, is ruled out of the upcoming mega-event due to a shoulder injury. The 25-year-old grabbed attention in the Mzansi Super League (MSL) where he picked 8 wickets in 3 matches, before succumbing to an ankle injury.

Subsequently, he was handed the ODI cap against Sri Lanka and took eight wickets in four games. The tall fast bowler generates healthy pace and will be in contention for South Africa’s World Cup squad as well. KKR’s pace bowling department was already inexperienced and now with the loss of the three quicks, it looks fragile as well.

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