The Indian Premier League (IPL) is widely deemed as the most popular cricket tournament across the globe, and this year the craze of the cash-rich event will go to a different level with the addition of two new teams in Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
While all the sides are studded with star cricketers from different parts of the world, the franchises have also suffered setbacks with players pulling out, sustaining injuries, and set to miss games due to national commitments.
Let’s take a look at the player availability for each team:
Chennai Super Kings
The defending champions will miss Deepak Chahar’s services for the large chunk of IPL 2022 as the pace spearhead is recovering from a quadriceps injury.
All-rounder Moeen Ali won’t be available for CSK’s first match in the tournament opener against KKR on March 26. The England cricketer arrived in Mumbai on the morning of March 24 and will need to serve a mandatory three-day quarantine before joining the squad.
CSK will also miss South Africa's Dwaine Pretorius in their opening fixture as he featured in the ODI series against Bangladesh, which concluded on March 23.
Mumbai Indians
The five-time champions will miss the services of Jofra Archer in the 2022 edition as the England speedster continues to recover from an elbow injury.
On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav is set to miss Mumbai's opening clash against Delhi Capitals on March 27. The middle-order batter is undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru after sustaining a hairline fracture on his thumb during the T20I series against West Indies last month.
Delhi Capitals
Australia opener David Warner is unavailable for the Capitals' first two games while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will miss the first three games. Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman will miss the opening match as they were part of the South Africa-Bangladesh ODI series.
Moreover, the Capitals are concerned over Anrich Nortje's fitness. The South African pacer, who hasn’t played competitive cricket since T20 World Cup last November, is yet to recover from a hip injury and is likely to sit out for the first few games.
Punjab Kings
South Africa’s ace pacer was part of the ODI series against Bangladesh and he will miss PBKS’ opening match. England batter Jonny Bairstow too will miss the first couple of matches as he playing the Test series against West Indies, due to end on March 27.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell, who recently tied the marriage knot with Indian fiancée, will miss at least the first two games. On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood and Jason Behrendorff are set to miss the first three matches as they are part of Australia’s ongoing tour of Pakistan, which will end on April 5.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
All the players are available for SRH from the first game barring Australia fast bowler Sean Abbott, who will miss the first three games.
Rajasthan Royals
South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen may have feature in the ODI series against Bangladesh, but he should be available for Royals' first game, slated for March 29 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Australia’s white-ball skipper Aaron Finch replaced England batter Alex Hales in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for the IPL 2022 season after the latter pulled out of the tournament citing bubble fatigue.
However, Finch will not be available for the first few games as he will be leading Australia’s ODI and T20I teams in Pakistan. Ace pacer Pat Cummins will reportedly fly back to Australia after the Pakistan Test series to attend Shane Warne's memorial on March 30 and he will join the KKR squad after completing the mandatory quarantine, which makes him available for their fourth match on April 6.
New Zealand are playing Netherlands in a white-ball series at home, but Tim Southee will be available for KKR from the very first match. He might have to miss the playoffs and the final if KKR makes it with New Zealand scheduled to play a three-Test series in England from June 2.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans have signed Afghanistan wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a replacement for Jason Roy, who opted out of the league due to bubble fatigue. West Indies quick Alzarri Joseph is set to miss Titans’ first-ever IPL match against Lucknow Super Giants on March 28 as he is playing the third Test against England.
Lucknow Super Giants
Australia pacer Andrew Tye has replaced injured England fast bowler Mark Wood in the Lucknow Super Giants line-up for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League.
Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers are likely to miss Super Giants’ first two matches as they are part of West Indies' Test squad against England. Australia’s Marcus Stoinis, who is part of the white-ball series against Pakistan, will miss the first three fixtures.
(With ESPNCricinfo inputs)
