Rajat Patidar might miss first half of IPL 2023 with heel harm

Rajat Patidar, the rising star of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2022, is unsure for at the least the primary half of the upcoming season as a consequence of a heel harm. Patidar is at the moment present process rehabilitation on the NCA in Bengaluru.

ESPNcricinfo understands that Patidar has been suggested to relaxation for the following three weeks earlier than an MRI determines his participation within the second half of the competitors. He was injured earlier than becoming a member of the camp and can want a clearance from the NCA earlier than linking up with Royal Challengers.

Patdar’s absence might power Royal Challengers to rethink their batting mixture. With him within the combine, Mike Hesson, the franchise’s director of cricket, had acknowledged after the public sale that Virat Kohli would proceed to open the batting with Faf du Plessis. The harm now doubtlessly means Kohli might drop again to a few with one from Finn Allen or Anuj Rawat beginning with du Plessis.

Patidar was not chosen in final 12 months’s mega public sale, however got here on as a mid-season substitute following an harm to goalkeeper Luvnith Sisodia.

He introduced his arrival within the Eliminator by hitting the quickest hundred by an Indian in match historical past, an inning rated by ESPNcricinfo panelists as one of the best in males’s franchise cricket in 2022.

Patidar completed the season as Royal Challengers’ third-highest run-scorer, behind du Plessis and Kohli. He made 333 runs in seven innings at a strike price of 152.75. His IPL exploits coupled with stellar returns in a Ranji Trophy-winning marketing campaign with Madhya Pradesh earned him a spot in India’s ODI squad throughout their dwelling summer time final 12 months.

Patidar’s unavailability isn’t the one concern for Royal Challengers. There are additionally questions on Josh Hazlewood’s involvement. The Australian quick bowler is at the moment recovering from Achilles tendonitis.

He flew dwelling midway by means of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February after lacking the primary two Exams. Hazlewood’s health will probably be intently monitored on condition that Australia has the World Check Championship ultimate and the Ashes will happen instantly after the IPL ends on Could 28.