Just when it appeared that every one the celebrities had aligned for Royal Challengers Bengaluru to lastly finish a 17-year Indian Premier League trophy drought, Lady Fortuna is seemingly smiling in a unique route.
With the IPL set for a restart from May 17 after cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan eased, RCB, which has three video games remaining, can seal playoffs qualification with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders this Saturday.
But accidents, coupled with players going away for national duty, have put a large spanner within the works, for as many as 5 first-choice players could miss the enterprise finish of RCB’s marketing campaign.
For a facet that has already misplaced No. 3 batter Devdutt Padikkal to a hamstring damage, there are query marks over the health of star bowler Josh Hazlewood and captain Rajat Patidar.
Hazlewood skipped the win over Chennai Super Kings on May 3 due to a shoulder niggle, however the 34-year-old was named on Tuesday in Australia’s 15-man squad for World Test Championship remaining towards South Africa from June 11.
Patidar, who was injured whereas fielding towards CSK and briefly went off the sphere for remedy, didn’t bat within the follow session forward of final Friday’s recreation towards Lucknow Super Giants, which was finally cancelled. With India set to tour England from mid-June for a five-Test collection, and an India-A shadow tour additionally deliberate, Patidar’s well being might be carefully monitored.
The English duo of Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell left the nation on Saturday, however with England set to start its residence ODI collection towards West Indies from May 29 — the identical day the IPL playoffs start — and the T20Is from June 6, it stays to be seen if the 2 return.
West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who starred within the slim two-run win over CSK, is a part of the roster that’s set to face Ireland from May 21. West Indies didn’t qualify for the 2023 World Cup and these matches assume significance because the two-time champion seems to keep away from a repeat.
Published – May 13, 2025 08:51 pm IST
