Mishra, Bhuvi out of IPL

Sunrisers’ strike bowler could miss tour of Australia too

Senior leg-spinner Amit Mishra was ruled out of the ongoing IPL along with pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who could also miss the tour of Australia at year-end, after the duo sustained different injuries while competing for Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.

While DC's Mishra fractured his ring finger while bowling against Kolkata Knight Riders on October 3, Bhuvneshwar picked up the thigh muscle injury on October 2 when SRH took on Chennai Super Kings. He is likely to be out of reckoning for the much-awaited trip Down Under.

The 37-year-old Mishra had three wickets from three games this season while Bhuvneshwar also had equal number of scalps albeit after playing a match more.

"Amit has fractured his ring finger and is out of IPL tournament. Obviously, it is a very disappointing news considering he was integral to DC's plans," a source from Mishra's management team confirmed.

Delhi Capitals' later issued a press release, stating that the bowler will consult a specialist on his return to India for recovery and rehabilitation.

"Mishra will now consult with a specialist over the next few days to determine the most appropriate course of management for this unfortunate injury. Everyone at Delhi Capitals wishes him a speedy recovery," the statement read.

As far as Bhuvneshwar is concerned, the extent of his injury is still not clear but it could take a good six to eight weeks for the 30-year-old to completely recover from the setback.

"Bhuvneshwar Kumar is out of IPL with a thigh muscle injury. It is probably a grade 2 or 3 injury, which could mean that he would be out for at least for weeks. It might effectively rule him out of India's tour of Australia," said a senior BCCI official on conditions of anonymity.

What will hurt the franchises is the fact that both bowlers were integral to the team's plans.

Mishra, as a wrist-spinner, was very important strategically for Capitals on bigger grounds as he showed his skills against Chennai Super Kings with brilliant figures of 4-0-23-0.