After KP & Faf, Pune lose Smith & Marsh to injury

If the health-related losses of Kevin Pietersen and Faf du Plessis weren't enough, Pune has now lost its other two overseas players - Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh - to injuries.

Hours after all-rounder Marsh was ruled out of IPL with a side strain, Aussie captain Smith decided to pull out with a wrist injury.

"Steve has been struggling with pain in his right wrist for the last week during his stint in the IPL," Australia's sports science and sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.

"We have been working with his IPL franchise Pune to monitor this, and unfortunately it has not resolved. As such, he will return home from India for further assessment and treatment ahead of the tour of the West Indies," he added.

Conceived from the remnants of the defunct Chennai Super Kings, the MS Dhoni-led Pune has been jolted by a series of impairments to its star cast this season. England batsman Kevin Pietersen had earlier pulled out with a calf ailment, while South African all-rounder Faf du Plessis saw his season come to an abrupt end following a finger injury.

Pune is currently languishing at the wrong end of the table, with six defeats from eight matches.