The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) will see some big stars missing out on the league. In the wake of the pandemic, the tournament had to be shifted out of the country and is being hosted in UAE.
While the teams are busy finalizing their permutation and combinations for IPL 2020, the tournament will be played under new guideline of social distancing and without fans.
With so many hindrances on the road, some players have decided to not take part in the upcoming edition of the IPL 2020. In this article we take a look at all the replacements that have been finalized and the likely possible replacements of the stars who have pulled out of IPL 2020.
Suresh Raina- (Possible Replacement- Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu)
Raina at No. 3 is usually a perfect matchup for the Chennai Super Kings, and he has missed just one match during his ten seasons at the franchise. He has now gone back home to India, but hasn’t quite ruled out a return to the Super Kings camp during the course of the tournament.
The Super Kings haven’t named a replacement for him yet, but Maharashtra and India A batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is believed to have impressed MS Dhoni at the Chepauk camp in March earlier this year, is being talked up as a possible No. 3. If Gaikwad isn’t the preferred choice, Ambati Rayudu is likely to take up the job, with Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis set to open the innings.
Lasith Malinga (Confirmed Replacement- James Pattinson)
Although the Mumbai Indians have a lethal pace attack, they are most certainly going to miss Malinga’s vast experience and big-game pedigree. The 37-year-old has stepped up for Mumbai in multiple finals and is also known as a master tactician much like his captain Rohit Sharma. Malinga usually bowls the tough overs – both in the powerplay and at the death – last delivering Mumbai an unprecedented fourth title.
In his absence, MI have signed James Pattinson as a replacement, but the Australia quick is yet to make his IPL debut. Pattinson brings with him extra pace and hit-the-deck bustle, which could prove effective even on the traditionally sluggish tracks in the UAE.
Chris Woakes (Confirmed Replacement- Anrich Nortje)
Delhi Capitals have drafted in Anrich Nortje as Woakes’ replacement. Nortje had missed IPL 2019 for the Knight Riders, and then the World Cup because of a shoulder injury, but he’s also back, and can regularly clock speeds north of 140kph. So Woakes’ absence might not be too big a setback for the Capitals.
Harbhajan Singh (Possible Replacements-Jalaj Saxena, Sai Kishore)
Harbhajan was Dhoni’s go-to spinner in the powerplay, claiming 11 wickets in 16 innings during that phase at an economy rate of 8.40. Not to forget all the experience and consistency; he is the only bowler to have an economy rate of less than 7.5 in eight IPL seasons
While the Super Kings have a variety of options to replace Raina within their squad itself, they don’t have a specialist offspinner in their roster to fill void left by Harbhajan Singh.
CSK have legspinners Piyush Chawla and Karn Sharma, and left-arm fingerspinner R Sai Kishore in the group but neither bowls offspin. Jalaj Saxena, who was part of the Delhi Capitals last year, could be good like-for-like replacement for Singh.
Jason Roy (Replacement-Daniel Sams)
He is huge for England in white-ball cricket, but would have found it hard to get in the XI for the Capitals, who have Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer as their Indian opening options. The team played it smart by picking up Australian left-arm quick Daniel Sams in Roy’s place.
Kane Richardson (Confirmed Replacement- Adam Zampa)
The Australian quick wanted to be home for the birth of his first child, and legspinner Adam Zampa has stepped in for Royal Challengers Bangalore. While this won’t be an exact role substitution, it is a sensible move from the team, with all matches to be played on slower pitches across the UAE.
Harry Gurney (Possible Replacement- Chris Green)
A shoulder injury has put Gurney out of action, and the Knight Riders might miss him, though they have Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson in their ranks. Crucially for the team, they will have Chris Green available – there were question marks over his action, but he’s bowling, and bowling very well, in the CPL.
Stay tuned for further updates.
