In the IPL Mega Auction, all franchises have strengthened their teams by adding great players to their rosters, but they may not always have their top 11 players available during the season. During IPL 2022, some players are associated with their respective national teams, some players are recovering from injury, and due to other issues they will not be able to be a part of IPL. In such a situation, almost all teams will not be able to take the services of some key players in the opening matches of the IPL season.
Stylish batsman Suryakumar Yadav will miss Mumbai’s opening match against Delhi Capitals on March 27. He was injured in the last T20 match against the West Indies. He is still not fully fit for the match.
Fast pitcher Deepak Chahar may be absent for the entire IPL season this time due to injury. So far his injury has not fully healed.
England starter Alex Hales was selected by KKR during the IPL auction but withdrew from IPL 2022 citing biobubble fatigue. KKR subsequently appointed Australia limited overs captain Aaron Finch in place of Hales. However, that, too, won’t be available until April 6. This is because Australia’s tour of Pakistan ends on April 5. Prior to this, no Australian player will be able to participate in the IPL.
Similarly, Pat Cummins will also not be available in the opening games. Meanwhile, New Zealand pacemaker Tim Southee, who got married earlier this week and joined the IPL biobubble as of late, will miss Saturday’s match. Later, they may have to miss the playoffs and the final too, as the test series between New Zealand and England will start from June 2.
Australian fast bowler Sean Abbott will also be unavailable for IPL matches until April 6 as per Cricket Australia rules.
Glenn Maxwell will not be seen in the opening IPL matches due to his marriage. Josh Hazlewood and Jason Behrendorff will also be unavailable in the first three matches, as the Australian players will only be released after April 6.
David Warner and Mitchell Marsh will also not be available until April 6. The biggest concern of the Capitals is the physical state of Enrich Nortje. He is fighting an injury. He has joined the team on Sunday, but he hardly participates in the first games.
Kagiso Rabada is likely to be left out of the Kings’ opening match as he was part of South Africa’s ODI series against Bangladesh. Jonny Bairstow is in the West Indies with the England test squad and he is likely to be ruled out of the first two games. Bairstow may also be unavailable for the playoffs and final to prepare for the England-New Zealand Test series in June.
The ODI series between Bangladesh and South Africa ended on March 23. So Proteas batsman Rossi van der Dussen could hardly be available for the Royals’ opener.
Jason Holder and Kyle Meyers are expected to be available only after the first week of the IPL as they are part of the West Indies test squad against England. They will miss the first two games of the Super Giants. Marcus Stoinis, who was part of Australia’s white ball team for the Pakistan tour, will also be available after April 6.
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who plays the third Test against England, will miss the first match against the Super Giants.
