Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma has suffered a back spasm and is expected to be out of action, at least for a couple of games, for Delhi Capitals (DC), in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He also did not feature in DC's opening game against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), which DC won in the Super Over.
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Ishant suffered the injury in the build-up to DC's opening game on Sunday. Although his exact date of return has not yet been revealed, the DC management is in no rush to get him back, while he would be given enough time to completely recover.
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"He will ideally need a little time and may miss a game or two. We will not risk Ishant and rush him into the XI so early in the season. The games have only begun and he is a vital cog going into the middle and business end of the tournament," said a member of DC's management to ANI.
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"It has nothing to do with returning to training after the pandemic-induced break. He had been training constantly during the break so that is not the case. Also, injuries happen to sportspersons all the time. Even a batsman can suffer spasms while batting at the nets. He was assessed immediately by the physio and necessary measures were taken," he added.
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Although Ishant has played for six IPL teams so far, he has failed to make a big impact for any. However, it was his last season with DC that saw him making a remarkable comeback. He finished as the side's second-highest wickets-taker, after Kagiso Rabada, claiming 13 wickets in 13 matches, at an economy of 7.58. Overall, he has claimed just 71 wickets in 89 matches at an economy of 8.11.
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DC are one of the three IPL sides to have never won a title to date. Although they managed to qualify for the playoffs last season, they failed to reach the semis, finishing in the fourth spot. To date, they have qualified only for four playoffs.
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DC are all set to lock horns against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their second game of the season on Friday. The latter are coming off a loss against Rajasthan Royals (RR), in Sharjah, on Tuesday.
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