AFP image.
IPL: To the dismay of Gujarat Titans (GT), New Zealand senior cricketer and skipper Kane Williamson might get ruled out of the tournament after he sustained a right knee injury during the Indian Premier League 2023 opening match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, PTI reported.
Gujarat made a thrilling 5-wicket victory with four deliveries left after MS's Chennai posed a target of 179.
The thirty-two-year-old batter had a nasty fall at the ropes while fielding and injured his leg at the 13th over and left the pitch limping. The extent of his injury is yet to be known.
Williamson made his debut in GT on Friday. He saved a six smashed by in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad. But the ball later bounced onto the rope later. Saving the six, fell and injured his leg.
"Williamson will probably require ACL reconstruction and could be out of competitive cricket for an indefinite period of time," said an IPL source. He said that there was little chance for the player to continue in this edition of the tournament.
New Zealand team head coach Gary Stead said Williamson's injury was a big blow to the national team.
"All we know at this stage is it's his right knee. Unfortunately, I can't give you much more than that now until we find out more information," Stead said. "It's not nice to see anyone, let alone your captain of your white ball team, being injured. It's a big blow for him, and it's a big blow for us."
In the event of Williamson not returning, Gujarat will seek a replacement. It could be Australia batter Steve Smith or Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, both of who were not sold in this year's auction.