Cricket

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, is facing an extended absence from the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad due to persistent pain in his left heel. Despite playing through discomfort in Sri Lanka's recent limited-overs series against Bangladesh, Hasaranga's condition has raised concerns among medical experts.Sri Lanka Cricket's medical staff suspect that the pain stems from wear and tear in the musculo-skeletal apparatus of Hasaranga's left heel. To determine the exact nature of the injury and devise an appropriate management plan, Hasaranga has been advised to seek further medical consultation overseas. He is expected to travel out of Sri Lanka next week for this purpose.As a result of his ongoing medical consultations, Hasaranga has yet to join the Sunrisers squad. The target for both the player and Sri Lanka Cricket is the T20 World Cup in June, where Hasaranga is slated to captain the national team. However, if his condition requires additional rest, treatment, or rehabilitation, his return to the IPL could be further delayed.Hasaranga's absence is a significant blow to the Sunrisers, who acquired him for INR 1.5 crore (approx. USD $181,000) at the recent auction. The all-rounder had a stellar IPL season with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, claiming 26 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.54.The Sunrisers will be hoping for a speedy recovery for Hasaranga, as his all-round abilities would be a valuable asset to their team. However, the player's health and long-term fitness remain the top priority, and the franchise will support him in his efforts to manage his injury effectively.

Delhi Capitals Suffer Major Setback as Ishant Sharma Sustains Ankle InjuryIn a major blow to the Delhi Capitals (DC), veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma suffered an ankle injury during their opening fixture of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.The incident occurred during the final over of the powerplay as Punjab Kings chased a target of 175 runs. Ishant collected a single off Mitchell Marsh's delivery but twisted his right ankle while attempting to throw it back to the wicketkeeper.The injury was severe, with Ishant collapsing to the ground in agony. The physio rushed to his aid and assisted him off the field.Ishant's injury is a significant setback for the Delhi Capitals, who are already facing a depleted squad due to the absence of Lungi Ngidi and Harry Brook. The team's bowling options have been severely impacted, leaving captain Rishabh Pant with fewer resources.Before the injury, Ishant had already made a significant impact on the match, bowling two overs for 16 runs and dismissing Shikhar Dhawan.The injury to Ishant Sharma has raised concerns about the Delhi Capitals' prospects for the remainder of the season. The franchise is hopeful that the injury is not severe and that Ishant will recover swiftly.Meanwhile, English all-rounder Sam Curran played a pivotal role in the Punjab Kings' victory over the Delhi Capitals. Curran's aggressive half-century, crafted from just 47 balls, propelled Punjab Kings to chase down the target of 175 runs with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare.Curran found valuable support from his compatriot, Liam Livingstone, who remained unbeaten on 38 runs off 21 balls, as the duo orchestrated a successful chase for Punjab Kings.Earlier in the match, Delhi, led by the returning Pant, posted a total of 174 for nine after their innings. However, Pant failed to make a significant impact with the bat, and Punjab Kings capitalised on the opportunity to restrict the Delhi Capitals' scoring.

Gujarat Giants' Harleen Deol's WPL 2024 Campaign Cut Short by InjuryGujarat Giants have suffered a significant setback with the news that batter Harleen Deol has been ruled out of the remainder of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 due to an injury. Deol sustained a knee injury during the Giants' third group-stage match against UP Warriorz in Bengaluru.The incident occurred in the first over of Warriorz's innings when Deol, stationed at sweeper cover, raced to her right to intercept a ball. She immediately clutched her left knee and limped off the field. Deol has not been seen in action since.Deol's absence is a major blow to the Giants, who have already been plagued by injuries. Uncapped fast bowler Kashvee Gautam was ruled out before the tournament began, while Australia's Lauren Cheatle had to withdraw after undergoing a medical procedure. Additionally, vice-captain Sneh Rana has missed the last two matches due to an undisclosed injury.Deol's performance in the WPL 2024 had been underwhelming. She batted at No. 3 in the Giants' season opener, where she fell for 8. In the second game, she was slotted in as an opener where she scored 22 off 31 balls. For the match against Warriorz, she was back at No. 3, where she managed 18 off 24.Deol's replacement, 29-year-old Bharti Fulmali, has played two T20Is for India and represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket. She was also part of the Trailblazers squad in the Women's T20 Challenge, which preceded the WPL.The Giants, currently at the bottom of the table, had a torrid start to their tournament, losing the first four matches. However, they turned a corner in their last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking a win by 19 runs in Delhi. They next play Mumbai Indians on March 9 in Delhi.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, with star batter Devon Conway set to miss at least the first half of the competition. The New Zealand international sustained a left thumb injury during the T20I series against Australia and will undergo surgery.New Zealand Cricket confirmed that Conway will require a minimum of eight weeks to recover from the surgery, ruling him out of the opening match of IPL 2024 against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22. The statement from New Zealand Cricket read: "BLACKCAPS opener Devon Conway will this week undergo surgery on the left thumb he damaged during the KFC T20I series against Australia. Following several scans and specialist advice, the decision was made to operate on Conway with a likely recovery period of at least eight weeks."Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl around the future of MS Dhoni in the IPL. The former Indian captain has not officially announced his retirement, but many experts and fans believe that IPL 2024 could be his final season. Dhoni has been one of the most successful skippers in the competition, leading CSK to five titles, the joint-most by any captain along with Rohit Sharma.However, Dhoni's childhood friend, Paramjit Singh, has provided a different perspective. "I do not think this will be his (Dhoni's) last season. He is still fit. I think he will play one or two more seasons. He will definitely play one more season. The reason is he is fit," Singh told OneCricket.If Dhoni does decide to retire after IPL 2024, it will mark the end of an era for CSK. The 41-year-old has been an integral part of the franchise since its inception in 2008, leading them to numerous titles and becoming one of the most iconic players in IPL history.

Will Pucovski's concussion woes continue as he is forced to retire hurt in Sheffield Shield matchWill Pucovski's injury-plagued career took another unfortunate turn on Friday when he was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the helmet by a Riley Meredith bouncer in Victoria's Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart.Pucovski, who has a history of concussions, was struck by the short ball from the second delivery he faced and immediately went down on his knees in the crease. The Cricket Australia doctor and Victoria physio were quickly into the middle, and after some time to compose himself, Pucovski was able to walk off the field unaided for further assessment.Campbell Kellaway was brought into the XI as the concussion substitute. The match is in the fourth innings with Victoria chasing 442."Pucovski, who walked from the field, is being monitored by medical staff," a Cricket Victoria statement said. "More information will be provided at a later stage."Pucovski has suffered multiple concussions throughout his career and last month returned from another spell on the sidelines where he made a century against New South Wales at the SCG.He has also had time away from the game for his mental health and earlier this year spoke about how he has learned that there is a link between that and his concussions."The mental health has been a much bigger issue for me than even the concussions," he told the Vic State Cricket podcast. "I don't fear for my long-term health, it's more the mental health side that's been the tougher part.""One day I'll be ready to tell my whole story and it will probably make a lot more sense," he added. "I've explained what I've been through to my inner circle of people and actually all the responses I've got have been like 'Jesus, I would never have guessed that in a million years, that doesn't even make sense to me'.""It hasn't made sense to me for years, either, but I've been on this pathway to understand it all."Pucovski played one Test for Australia in early 2021, against India at the SCG.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, has been dealt a major setback as he is set to miss the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a persistent left ankle injury. The 33-year-old pacer, who has been battling this issue for some time now, will undergo surgery in the United Kingdom to address the problem.Shami's absence from the IPL, which is scheduled to commence on March 22, is a significant blow to his franchise, the Gujarat Titans, who were hoping to retain their title with the services of their star bowler. The right-arm pacer has been a key figure in India's recent success in limited-overs cricket, playing a pivotal role in their run to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.The injury concerns surrounding Shami have raised questions about the injury rehabilitation management program planned by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Some experts believe that a more aggressive approach, such as opting for surgery earlier, could have potentially accelerated his recovery and allowed him to participate in the IPL.Shami's absence from the IPL is not only a setback for his franchise but also for the Indian team, as he is a vital cog in their bowling attack. With a packed schedule of international fixtures in the coming months, including Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, as well as the marquee away series against Australia, Shami's availability will be crucial for India's success.The injury to Shami highlights the importance of effective injury management and rehabilitation programs for athletes. With the increasing demands of modern-day cricket, players are often pushed to their limits, making it essential for teams and support staff to prioritize player welfare and ensure that injuries are addressed promptly and appropriately.