Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff, who was included in the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad expressed his disappointment on March 19 at missing this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a fractured leg sustained in a ‘freak training incident’. A left-arm pacer Luke Wood replaced Behrendorff in the MI squad on March 18.
"Unfortunately, there was a freak accident at training last week which resulted in my leg being broken. It wasn't anyone's fault, just a very unlucky incident," Behrendorff wrote in a social media post.
“I have loved being a part of the MI Family and I am absolutely gutted to be missing this year's IPL”, Behrendorff said.
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During the previous season, Behrendorff played a crucial role in the MI pace lineup, which lacked the star power of Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah and English pacer Jofra Archer. He guided MI to the playoffs with 14 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 27.64. Behrendorff was recognised as Australia's top men's T20 player in 2023 after showcasing his skills for the Baggy Greens in the shortest format.
He spearheaded Australia’s attack against India in a five-match series last December. He emerged as the leading wicket-taker for the Baggy Greens with six wickets. He also picked up a wicket in each match of Australia’s three-match home T20I series against the West Indies.
Behrendorff's absence news comes just days before MI's opening IPL 2024 match against the Gujarat Titans on March 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The potential partnership of Behrendorff with Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee is something that MI’s vast fanbase will sorely miss in the upcoming season.
The 33-year-old didn’t speak much about the incident. According to an Espncricinfo report, he got injured while batting in the nets at the WACA Ground last week.
"Behrendorff was batting in the nets at the WACA ground last Thursday ahead of departing to India to play in the IPL with Mumbai Indians when he suffered a fractured left fibula after a ball missed his pad and struck him flush just above the left ankle," the report said.
It remains to be seen how the coming of Wood will impact MI’s plans and the structure of their already formidable bowling attack as they seek redemption from their Qualifier 2 elimination in IPL 2023.
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