IPL 2024: Massive blow for CSK as star overseas bowler set to be ruled out for 4-5 weeks - Reports

Defending champions CSK will begin their IPL 2024 campaign on 22nd March against RCB.

Ahead of the opening fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been dealt another huge blow as their star overseas pace bowler is all set to be ruled out of action for at least 4-5 weeks, according to reports.

The five-time champions CSK, have already lost their star opener Devon Conway, who has been sidelined for at least eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his left thumb. The defending champions will kick-off their campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

The left-handed batter Conway sustained the injury during the three-match T20I series against Australia, and he also missed the two-match test series against the same team. The 32-year-old played a huge role in CSK’s title run in the IPL 2023, where he amassed 672 runs in 16 innings at an impressive average of 51.69 with a blistering strike rate of 139.82.

Conway was also the highest run-scorer for Dhoni’s men in the IPL 2023 summit clash against one-time champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and was also named Player of the Match in the IPL 2023 final.

CSK’s star pacer Matheesha Pathirana likely to be ruled out for 4-5 weeks

Sri Lankan young pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who suffered a hamstring injury during the second T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh is likely to miss the first four to five weeks of the IPL 2024.

His absence will deal a huge blow to the CSK bowling line-up, as the 21-year-old speedster was a death-over specialist for the MS Dhoni-led side in the showpiece event last year. In IPL 2023 season, the CSK pacer picked up 19 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 7.96.

According to a report by the Times of India, Pathirana will be out for at least four to five weeks, and he is all set to miss the first few games for five-time champions CSK in the upcoming IPL 2024.

With the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to take place just after the cash-rich league, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) will also take a cautious approach before giving green signal to the right-arm speedster Pathirana.

“We have to talk to SLC to know when he will be available. He is one of our premier bowlers, but these things happen,” a senior CSK official was quoted as saying by TOI.

However, in Pathirana’s absence, CSK might use star Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman as death bowler. The left-arm pacer was acquired by the defending champions for Rs 2 crores in the IPL 2024 mini-auction, and he also has experience playing in the toughest cricket league.

“Fizz will join the camp on March 20, a couple of days before our opener against RCB. He knows what it takes, and we will see how he shapes up,” the official said.

The Bangladesh pacer has played for four IPL franchises till now. Mustafizur made his IPL debut in 2016, where he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

He then joined the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2018 edition. Then he played for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2021 and for the Delhi Capitals in 2022 and 2023.

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