Quinton de Kock ruled out of IPL but will play third Test
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of this Indian Premier League (IPL) season owing to an injury to the index finger on his right hand. The move comes despite the Proteas star being declared fit to play New Zealand in the third Test in Hamilton after passing a late fitness test on Friday.
De Kock will, however, start the recovery process for his injury after that in order to be fit for the Champions Trophy in the summer, meaning he will have to give the IPL season a miss. Having already lost JP Duminy for the upcoming season, De Kock’s injury will come as a major blow to Delhi Daredevils.
De Kock had trained on Friday with strapping and a protective splint and South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said as far as he was concerned the aggressive batsman was too important to leave out for the series-deciding match starting on Saturday.
“It’s a big game. Quinton is someone who you don’t just replace. From my side, I am trying to have Quinton in my team all the time,” du Plessis told reporters in Hamilton.
“He has had problems with his fingers for quite a while. It’s part of being a keeper. It’s never nice to catch balls on the fingertips all the time and it’s been painful for him for a while.
“Maybe the cold New Zealand conditions make it worse. It’s hurting for him a bit more now but because it’s a big game, resting him for someone else is not an option.”