While the Indian Premier League draws in a legion of new found fans
all following their favourite outfits through media or live online IPL
scores and IPL audio updates, the injuries to some of the key players in this
mega tournament will certainly dampen the spirits of the millions in anticipation
of catching up with their heroes.
Sachin Tendulkar is yet to participate in the inaugural Indian Premier
League tournament due to a sore back. While the champion batsman has been a
big source of inspiration for the side with his regular dressing room talks
and through his public supports from the dug out, it is his presence on the
filed which has been sorely missed by the Mumbai Indians cricket team.
Sachin is yet to feature in any of the first seven matches in the IPL so far
and it will be a touch and go affair with regards to his fitness when the Mumbai
Indians face up with the Chennai Superkings on the 14th of May. With the team
recovering from a poor start and the likes of Robin Uthappa, Shaun Pollock and
Abhisekh Nayar standing up for themselves, the Mumbai Indians are back in contention
for a semi-final place and the presence of Sachin Tendulkar might be just what
they need to make the next step up in quality.
While Tendulkar is expecting return shortly, things do not look so rosy for
fellow Indian test cricket batsman Wasim Jaffer. The Bangalore Royal Challengers
opener who has looked in good touch is out with a fracture that will keep him
out for the next three weeks effectively ending his tournament. Jaffer has been
one of the biggest plus points for Bangalore in a dismal run thus yet scoring
110 runs and the void created by his absence will be a tough one to fill. Jaffer
injured his arm on the 28th of April against the Chennai Superkings and his
condition soon worsened to the point that he couldn't grip a bat properly on
the eve of the clash against the Kolkata Knightriders.
Unlike Jaffer, one player who will be making a comeback is Pakistani pace spearhead
Sohaib Akthar. The Pakistan cricket bowler is back in cricketing action
after seeing his five-year ban suspended for matches not involving Pakistan.
Sohaib who was purchased by the Knightriders for an insane amount of money will
provide the right impetus to a team struggling for form and inspiration and
it remains to be seem if the Knightriders can overcome the absence of two of
their key players in Ricky Pointing and Brendon Mcculum to put up a fight in
the remaining matches.
Other absentees include Kumara Sangakkara who is sidelined for a week following
a thigh strain. The Sri Lankan dasher will however be back in action next week
and this will indeed come up as good news for a Punjab outfit who have kept
IPL cricket scores rattling with some of the most powerful hitting this summer.
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