Injured XI: The IPL's missing men

Chris Lynn

Kolkata Knight Riders, shoulder

After a blistering start to the tournament, the six-hitting sensation appeared to suffer another injury to his left shoulder while fielding for Kolkata on Sunday night. The initial diagnosis for Lynn isn’t yet known but his history of similar injuries to the same shoulder is concerning. The blow was made more painful for his IPL side considering the Queenslander got his third stint in the IPL off to a flyer, smashing 91 off just 41 balls in the Knight Riders’ season-opener.

Quinton de Kock

Delhi Daredevils, finger

The prodigious wicketkeeper hurt his right index finger in South Africa’s Test series against New Zealand, ruling him out of the entirety of IPL10. De Kock indicated recently the digit is on the mend as the Proteas sweat on the left-hander’s availability for June’s Champions Trophy.

Virat Kohli

Royal Challengers Bangalore, shoulder

The Indian firebrand says he won’t return until he is “120 per cent” fit after injuring his shoulder in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia last month. While Kohli has stressed his priority is to be firing for the Champions Trophy, he could return as soon as tonight, with RCB taking on Kings XI Punjab.

AB de Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore, back

Kohli’s RCB teammate de Villiers too has been sidelined but he’s also expected to make a return to the star-studded line-up in the early stages of the tournament. The South African has however ruled out wicketkeeping for Bangalore, admitting the demands of the job have become too demanding.

KL Rahul 

Royal Challengers Bangalore, shoulder

Having starred in the Test series against Australia with six half-centuries, the young opener jetted off to the United Kingdom for surgery on his right shoulder at the conclusion of the four-match series. Remarkably, Rahul dislocated it in the first Test of the Australia series and played through it, but he won’t play for RCB in this year’s IPL as he recovers from the operation.

Mitch Marsh 

Rising Pune Supergiant, shoulder

The allrounder flew home midway through Australia’s Test series in India for surgery on his troublesome right shoulder. While initial reports suggested his involvement in next summer’s Ashes series were in doubt, Marsh’s Western Australia coach Justin Langer last month said he’s on track to return much sooner

Dwayne Bravo

Gujarat Lions, hamstring 

A fan favourite at the Melbourne Renegades, Bravo suffered a dramatic hamstring injury during last summer’s KFC Big Bash League. The West Indian has since undergone surgery and could still play a part in the Gujarat Lions’ IPL campaign.

Ravindra Jadeja 

Gujarat Lions, finger

Gujarat have also missed the services of another star allrounder, with Jadeja taking a BCCI-mandated breather after a marathon home Test season. Coach Brad Hodge however expects the left-armer to be made available to return for the Lions’ next game after the side slumped to defeats in their first matches of the tournament.

Ravichandran Ashwin 

Rising Pune Supergiant, groin

Like his spin partner-in-crime Jadeja, Ashwin is recovering after a huge workload with India’s Test side, though the off-spinner could miss the whole tournament with a groin injury. How he fared under new Pune captain Steve Smith would have been an intriguing subplot to this year’s tournament.

Tim Southee

Mumbai Indians, hamstring

While the New Zealand veteran came into the tournament under an injury cloud, Southee played in Mumbai's season-opening loss to Pune. The seamer had suffered a grade one tear to his hamstring during the Kiwis' Test series against South Africa, but recovered in time for the beginning of the tournament.

Umesh Yadav

Kolkata Knight Riders, soreness

Kolkata will be without the right-arm quick for at least their first two matches. The BCCI confirmed after the Test series against Austrlia that Umesh pulled up with right hip and lower back soreness. The Knight Riders will be eager to welcome the paceman back to their XI once he’s passed fit.