Mumbai: Injuries to top players have marred the 10th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) even before it has begun. The most affected are the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The southern franchise is without India skipper Virat Kohli, who will miss at least the first two weeks of action as he’s still nursing the shoulder injury he sustained during the third Test against Australia at Ranchi.
Indian opener KL Rahul has been ruled out of the whole tournament, while youngster Sarfaraz Khan – brought in to replace Kohli – will miss the tournament due to a leg injury sustained in training. To make the matter worse, South African superstar AB de Villiers, who was expected to captain RCB in absence of Kohli, on Tuesday, confirmed that he won’t be playing the first match of IPL 2017, set to take place on April 5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
De Villers made the announcement on Twitter, He wrote, “Really disappointed to be missing the opening game of the IPL tomorrow, good luck to @ShaneRWatson33 and the rest of the @RCBTweets boys!”
Former New Zealand skipper and Gujarat Lions player Brendon McCullum saw the lighter side of it and suggested that RCB may have to bring out their coach and fellow New Zealander, Daniel Vettori, to take the field.
McCullum wrote, "Dodgy back again bro? You fellas almost need to roll out the coach for game 1!?"
A suggestion well taken by the South African.
And McCullum backed his former teammate's abilities with the ball.
