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In a big blow to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), two players from their team will most likely miss out on the first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, adding to the injury to Will Jacks, with the Englishman already ruled out of the competition.
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood and middle-order batter Rajat Patidar are still recovering from their respective injuries, with reports suggesting that the duo might miss the first few matches of the tournament.
Both players were key to RCB's push for a top-four finish during IPL 2022, and their absence will be crucial for the side heading into the cash-rash league.
According to premier cricket media house ESPNCricinfo, 32-year-old Hazlewood is recovering from his Achilles tendonitis injury, which also kept him out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the ensuing ODI series between Australia and India.
Patidar is recovering from a heel injury, which will surely jeopardise his opportunity to continue where he left off in IPL 2023. In fact, his 333 runs in just eight matches and an average of 55.50 was the highest among the RCB players in IPL 2022. His highest score — 112* — came against Lucknow Super Giants during the IPL 2022 eliminator.
ESPNCricinfo reports that Patidar is at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, undergoing rehab, and has been advised to rest for the next three weeks before an MRI scan will determine his participation in the second half of the competition.
Patidar's exploits in IPL 2022 were rightly noticed by the BCCI selectors, who called him up to the national team but are yet to make his international debut. He injured himself right before joining the camp and will need clearance from the NCA before joining the RCB side.
RCB will open their campaign against the five-time champion Mumbai Indians at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, April 2.
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