In a huge blow to Punjab Kings (PBKS), their hard-hitting English batter Jonny Bairstow is set to miss Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as he is yet to recover from freak leg injury suffered while playing golf.
Bairstow was ruled out T20 World Cup 2022 and England had to include Alex Hales in their lineup as replacement. He also missed England's Test tours to Pakistan and New Zealand after he damaged his left leg's ligament.
As per a report by the Guardian, Bairstow underwent successful surgery on his left leg and a metal plate was inserted. He has made significant progress of late but is still to regain full fitness. It was only recently he had hit the nets again. The report also suggests that even if Bairstow recovers midway through the IPL, he will play for Yorkshire ahead of the Ashes 2023.
Bairstow had scored 253 runs from 11 innings at an average of 23 including two half-centuries. His strike rate was an impressive 144.57. He was picked by PBKS in the mega auction for Rs 6.75 crore after a bidding war with his former franchise Sunrisers Hyderbad (SRH).
Bairstow made his IPL debut in 2019 and has played 39 matches so far. He has scored 1,291 runs at an average of 35.86 including one century and nine half-centuries. His IPL career strike rate is 142.65.
Shikhar Dhawan-led PBKS will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the second match of the season.
In the IPL mini auction, PBKS went all out to rope in Sam Curran. They spent a record-breaking sum of Rs 18.50 crore for the English all-rounder. Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza was their only other overseas recruit. Raza's services were acquired for the base price of Rs 50 lakh.
Punjab Kings squad for IPL 2023: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shahrukh Khan, Jonny Bairstow (injured), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Nathan Ellis, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Bhatia, Mohit Rathee
ALSO READ:
EXCLUSIVE | Brett Lee voices his wish for MS Dhoni if IPL 2023 happens to be CSK captain's swansong
