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IPL 2019: RR looking for Steve Smith’s replacement

Dixit Bhargav
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RR looking for Steve Smith's replacement

RR looking for Steve Smith’s replacement: The IPL franchise might have to find an overseas batsman for the upcoming season.

IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals might not enjoy the services of banned Australia batsman Steven Smith during the 12th season of the Indian Premier League after he has been ruled out of actions for six weeks due to a elbow injury.

Smith aggravated a past elbow injury while playing for Comilla Victorians during the ongoing edition of the Bangladesh Premier League.

“He is quite positive about returning, possibly during the Sylhet phase of the competition. He will undergo an MRI in Australia, which isn’t available in Bangladesh, and will inform us about it,” Victorians media manager Sohanuzzaman Khan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

The 29-year old right-hand batsman will undergo surgery in Australia and is expected to wear a brace for six weeks. It is understood that Smith will undergo an extensive recovery post the six-week period.

While the duration of the recovery is not known as of now, Smith’s participation in the series against Pakistan and the Indian Premier League is under clouds.

[yuzo_related]

With Australian players only available till May 2 and Smith also certain to play the series against Pakistan (if fit), once assumes he will have a limited role to play in the Indian Premier League. Perhaps, it was this reason due to which there were reports of Rajasthan Royals not handing the captaincy to Smith for IPL 2019.

According to the reports in the Mumbai Mirror, the franchise will only be able to replace Steve Smith if the cricketer confirms that he won’t be flying to India to participate in the tournament.

Smith was slated to represent Royals in the last season but was banned by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball tampering saga at Cape Town last year. Royals had replaced him with South Africa wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen. It will be interesting to know whom they finalize on as Smith’s replacement for this season.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Dixit Bhargav

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Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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