Here are four players who might miss a few games of the IPL 2020 due to variety of reasons.
BCCI has put up strict SOPs and guidelines for all the players and members of all eight franchises to follow and anyone breaking those guidelines willingly might put the entire tournament at risk. However, the COVID-19 threat and the guidelines may also hamper the availability of some players, who are yet to reach the Emirates.
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Players from England and Australia are slated to play a limited-overs series in England and might miss a few matches in the first week due to quarantine rules, but there are few players who might be late starters due to other reasons.
Team COC looks at four such players who might miss a few matches for the respective franchises due to some personal reasons.
Here are 4 Players who are uncertain starters in IPL 2020
SURESH RAINA (CSK)
And after 13 members of the contingent, including Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, were tested positive for the COVID-19, Raina decided that he couldn’t risk it and cited that kids and family come first and returned back home.
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With CSK players reportedly beginning their training from Friday onwards, Raina recently told Cricbuzz that he hasn't stopped training and could very well be back if he feels like doing so.
However, even if he decides to come back and play in IPL 2020, he would have to redo the whole procedure of testing and quarantining once more and pass three COVID-19 tests to rejoin the squad.
LASITH MALINGA (MI)
His father is suffering from ill health and is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days and the Lankan legend, who has been with MI since 2009, has decided to stay back with his father and will join the MI team in UAE, once his father gets better.
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He was also not a part of Sri Lanka’s 24-member squad which was announced for a second-residential training camp in June. Malinga, who is the highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 170 scalps to his name, will be badly missed by the defending champions.
HARBHAJAN SINGH (CSK)
Given that 13 members of the CSK franchise tested positive for the Coronavirus and leading batsman Suresh Raina possibly opting out of the tournament, Harbhajan Singh, reportedly, has also developed cold feet about playing in the UAE.
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A top CSK official gave an update on his availability and said, "He was to join the team on 1st September but he has again deferred his arrival. We don’t know when he’s coming or whether he’s coming at all as he has not updated us (management) on his decision.”
CSK might not want to lose one more experienced campaigner in Harbhajan Singh, as they aim to win their 4th IPL title.
BEN STOKES (RR)
Stokes had mentioned that he was not mentally there as he was preparing for the Pakistan series and had trouble sleeping as well. He decided to pull out of the Pakistan series and the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia as well, to be with his father in this tough time.
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This also means that there is a big question mark over his availability for the RR franchise in the upcoming IPL edition. Stokes has been a star for the franchise for the past two years and he not playing for them will be a big blow to their chances of winning the tournament.
He wouldn't want a similar situation like that of the Pakistan series where he was physically on the field but was mentally thinking about his father. Such a situation would neither help the player nor his team.