01:48
Kalra: Pune will rue not having any frontline Indian spinner
Ravichandran Ashwin, the India offspinner, is set to miss IPL 2017 for Rising Pune Supergiant because of a sports hernia. Ashwin is likely to be out of action for six to eight weeks, but is expected to regain full fitness ahead of India’s title defence at the Champions Trophy in June. He is scheduled to begin his rehabilitation soon.
M Vijay too is in danger of missing the tournament for Kings XI Punjab because of a wrist and shoulder injury that he has played with for a better part of India’s home season. It is likely that Vijay may have to undergo a shoulder surgery. The franchise is awaiting a report from India phsyio Patrick Farhart before taking another step in the matter.
Ashwin, 30, has had an unprecedented workload during India’s marathon home season that featured 13 Test matches against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. During the period, Ashwin bowled 738.2 overs – the most ever by a bowler in a Test season – and picked up a record 82 wickets. Along with Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin claimed 153 wickets at an average of 24.14 to become the most successful bowling pair in a season.
Ashwin first picked up the injury immediately after the Test series against England in December. In the aftermath, he withdrew from Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Karnataka.
Arun Venugopal is a correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. @scarletrun
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo