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KP injury could open door for Marsh

Calf injury expected to put Pietersen out for a fortnight as Pune skipper Dhoni hints at recall for Mitchell Marsh

Kevin Pietersen is expected to be sidelined for "a few weeks" but his crippling calf injury in last night's Indian Premier League match could open the door for Australia's Mitchell Marsh.

Early in the Rising Pune Supergiants' run chase against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pietersen dabbed his first delivery into the offside and took off for a quick single, as he has done countless times before in his career.

However, this time the 35-year-old's calf muscle was not willing to help propel him down the pitch. It tore – the seriousness of which is not yet known – and KP quickly turned and hobbled back to his crease.

WATCH: Pune squashed by Virat, AB special

Attended to by the Pune medical staff, Pietersen first hobbled towards the sidelines before being carried back to the dressing room.

Pietersen's retirement compounded a top-order collapse for Pune, coming the ball after South Australian Kane Richardson had removed South Africa opener Faf du Plessis. Steve Smith was run out by Virat Kohli the next over and Pune were suddenly 3-18 in the third over and facing an impossible task after Kohli (80) and AB de Villiers (83) had inspired Banglaore to 3-185.

In response to a tweet from former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher that KP was "getting old", he responded that he would be off the golf course "for a few weeks now".

Pietersen later posted a picture of himself in a wheelchair in the Pune dressing rooms with a bandage on his right calf and the caption "Urgh".

Pune eventually fell short by 13 runs and, assuming Pietersen's injury enforced absence from India's fairways and greens correlates to his time away from the cricket field, Pune will need to make a change.

Image Id: ~/media/1B0C3E1E001243298C3E63BD664D3782 Image Caption: Marsh appeals fo a wicket in Pune's IPL opener against Mumbai // Sportzpics

Skipper MS Dhoni said after the match having Pietersen out of the equation when selecting their XI could be "a blessing in disguise".

"We're playing with six bowlers, yet our death bowling isn't great," Dhoni said. "KP's injury can be a blessing in disguise. 

"Maybe we can look to bring in Albie Morkel or Mitch Marsh in the next game.

"With the kind of players we've got, it has always been difficult to drop someone. We need to strengthen our bowling line a bit," he said.

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Marsh has played two matches already this season and while he has not hit his straps with the bat he showcased his ever-improving bowling with two wickets at 15.5 and a very tidy economy rate in T20 terms of 6.2.

Morkel has yet to feature for Pune in this year's IPL, although the South African has played 89 matches over his eight-year IPL career.

Marsh, who was sold to Pune for $1 million at the IPL auction in February, is relishing the opportunity to mix with some of the game's modern greats for the first time in three seasons.

Image Id: ~/media/B50B27B2D5424ADF9163FEA4D792966C Image Caption: Marsh celebrates a wicket with Dhoni // Sportzpics

"That's the one thing that's great about world cricket these days – there's so many T20 competitions that international players play with each other all around the world," the allrounder told cricket.com.au this month.

"You get to understand people. Your thoughts of them on the field aren't necessarily what they're like off the field.

"We've got a great relationship going with all the boys and we've got a lot of international players within our side and we're all gelling together beautifully."

Quick Single: Marsh's unlikely Pune mentor

If Dhoni and Pune's brains trust opt for a slow bowling option, Australia's T20 leg-spinning sensation Adam Zampa is primed and ready.

If Pune opted not to strengthen their bowling with an allrounder, Pietersen's Melbourne Stars teammate Peter Handscomb could be called on to fill his spot in the middle order and make an IPL debut.

Pune's next match is against the table-topping Kolkata Knight Riders at home on Monday night.