IPL 2022: KKR’s Ajinkya Rahane ruled out with hamstring injury
In disappointing news for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and their fans, the senior batter Ajinkya Rahane is set to leave the KKR bio-bubble after suffering an injury during his team’s last game, against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on May 14 (Saturday).
As per reports, the right-handed batter will go to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore where he might stay for four weeks of rehab. During the game against SRH, the right-handed batter looked in some sort of pain as he was batting during the powerplay overs. Despite that, he continued to bat and amassed 28 runs off 24 balls and stroked three big sixes in the process. In the latest turn, KKR made the news official through their social media handles.
Ajinkya Rahane set to miss the England tour as well
The senior Indian batter has suffered a hamstring injury which will not allow him to participate in the India tour of England slated to start in July, a report on Cricbuzz states. The Indian side is set to play Three Lions in one rescheduled Test match, apart from three T20Is, which will be followed by three One Day Internationals. The tour will start on July 1 and the final match of the series will be played at the Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on July 17 (Sunday).
Coming back to the KKR campaign in IPL 2022, the two-time champions are currently placed sixth in the points table and will dearly miss the services of injured Rahane. In the absence of the senior batter, KKR might send West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine or Nitish Rana as the second opener alongside the left-handed batter Venkatesh Iyer.
The Men in Purple will now take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their final group stage match of IPL 2022. The match will take place at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on May 18 (Wednesday). Talking about LSG, the new entrants have also lost their previous match against Rajasthan Royals and are desperate for a win.