In a major blow to the Rajasthan Royals, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Prasidh Krishna, the franchise’s pace spearhead, will not be participating in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a quadriceps injury. This setback comes after the Royals put their trust in Krishna’s abilities and retained him for the IPL even though he missed the last season due to injury concerns.
Krishna underwent a surgical procedure last month to address his proximal quadriceps tendon injury and is currently under the watchful eye of the BCCI Medical Team. He is expected to commence his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru shortly.
“The fast bowler underwent surgery on February 23rd, 2024, on his left proximal quadriceps tendon. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and will resume rehab at the National Cricket Academy soon. He will not be able to take part in the upcoming IPL 2024,” the BCCI statement detailed.
This news is disheartening for cricket fans who were expecting to see Krishna make a significant impact in the IPL following his stirring performances for India. The tall fast bowler last represented the national team in the New Year Test against South Africa in Cape Town. However, shortly after his return from the South Africa tour, he incurred an injury while representing Karnataka against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy. His absence from the upcoming IPL season is a notable detriment to the Rajasthan Royals’ bowling lineup.
Krishna, whose expertise in the shorter formats of the game has been exemplary, has represented India in two Test matches, 17 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and five T20 International matches. He will now focus on a swift recovery to return to peak physical condition.
Financial considerations also come into play for the Royals, who had previously invested heavily in Krishna by spending an impressive INR 10 crore during the mega auction. However, the bowler’s persistent injury woes and lack of availability could prompt the franchise to reconsider his retention ahead of the next mega auction slated for the following year.
The Rajasthan Royals still boast a robust squad for the IPL 2024 season with the likes of Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal among others. Here is the full roster:
Rajasthan Royals squad for IPL 2024: Sanju Samson (captain), Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Kunal Rathore, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Abid Mushtaq, Nandre Burger.
In related news, BCCI has also announced the exclusion of Mohammed Shami from the upcoming IPL season. Shami has undergone surgery for a right heel injury. BCCI’s update on Shami’s condition mirrors the concern for Krishna, indicating that both bowlers will be missing the action on the cricketing fields this IPL season.
“The fast bowler successfully underwent surgery on February 26th, 2024, for his right heel problem. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team and is ruled out of the upcoming IPL 2024,” confirmed the BCCI statement.
With the tournament drawing near, the Rajasthan Royals, as well as the fans, will surely miss the intensity and skill that Prasidh Krishna brings to the game. Now, the focus turns to the rest of the squad to fill the void left by this formidable bowler and to navigate the upcoming challenges of IPL 2024.
