In a big blow to Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) title defense in IPL 2024, Shivam Dube has suffered a bilateral side strain injury which might see him missing the initial phase of the upcoming glitzy league.
According to a report from The Times of India, CSK's star all-rounder has a grade one-tear which can take upto eight weeks to recover fully and be match ready. Notably, the injury occurred while Shivam Dube was participating in a match between Mumbai and Assam in the current Ranji Trophy 2024 season, during which he notably hit a century. Regrettably, this injury will sideline Dube for the rest of the Ranji Trophy season, creating additional worries for the CSK team as the IPL 2024 season approaches in about a month.
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Who could replace Shivam Dube?
“Dube is dealing with a bilateral side strain injury and may miss the remainder of the Ranji Trophy season. He got injured while batting in the recent match against Assam and didn’t participate in the field during Assam’s second innings at BKC. The injury is classified as a grade-one tear. It’s expected that Musheer Khan will step in as his replacement,” a source told TOI.
Dube's injury, diagnosed as a grade one bilateral side tear, is expected to sideline him for approximately eight weeks. This puts his participation in the early stages of IPL 2024 in doubt. Should the tournament commence on the planned date of March 22, as stated by IPL chairman Arun Dhumal to PTI, Dube is likely to be unavailable for the initial games.
As the Chennai Super Kings aim to retain their title and achieve an unprecedented sixth IPL victory, the team must now explore backup strategies. Musheer Khan, the promising sibling of Sarfaraz Khan who made a mark in the U-19 World Cup 2024 for India, is being considered as a potential replacement for Dube.
Dube potential unavailability put CSK's title defense in danger
Dube's potential unavailability could pose a substantial challenge for CSK, given his instrumental contribution to their IPL 2023 championship triumph. Last season, he was a key figure in their batting lineup, amassing 418 runs at a notable strike rate of nearly 160 and topping the franchise's chart with 35 sixes, making him the second-highest six-hitter in the competition.
With IPL 2024 on the horizon, CSK supporters are eagerly looking forward to news on Dube's recuperation and the team's plans to navigate this unforeseen obstacle.
No Shivam Dube for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarterfinal clash
Dube is also set to be absent from Mumbai's quarterfinal match in the current Ranji Trophy season. The team, which has won the Ranji Trophy 41 times, is set to compete against Baroda in the quarterfinals starting February 23, playing at their home ground. Dube's absence poses a significant challenge for Ajinkya Rahane's squad, as the all-rounder had been displaying remarkable form throughout the tournament. Over six innings in this season's Ranji Trophy, Dube hit two centuries and two fifties, including a rapid 87-ball century against Assam and a 117-run performance off 130 balls, enhancing his batting profile.
On the bowling front, Dube made substantial contributions to the Mumbai team, delivering 67 overs and claiming 12 wickets with an impressive average of 12.08.
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