Dubai: Delhi Capitals will play their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Sunday (September 20) at the Dubai International Stadium. A big setback received by Delhi Capitals ahead of their opening match on Sunday, as Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma injured himself during training session and is likely to be sidelined for a certain period of time.
MATCHDAY 🔥
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) September 20, 2020
It’s a (tug of) war for the #NorthernDerby bragging rights tonight 🤜🏻🤛🏻#DCvKXIP 👉🏻 7:30 PM IST 🕢#Dream11IPL #YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2020 @ShreyasIyer15 pic.twitter.com/SLi1cvj7h7
According to Cricbuzz, Sharma got injured his back during the training session in Dubai on the eve of their opening match.
This year on January, the 32-year-old Sharma suffered an ankle injury during Ranji Trophy game between Delhi and Vidarbha and was sidelined. But he soon recovered and returned to play the Test match against New Zealand before injuring the same ankle again, which had put a doubt over his future.
It was a roller coaster ride for me after the injury on my ankle on the 20th January but with the help of Ashish Kaushik I managed to pull it off! Scans were a little scary, but today I am happy that I am fit ! 🏏 Thanks Ashish Kaushik! #recoverymode #recovery #postinjury pic.twitter.com/xwNpecc0Iz
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) February 15, 2020
Following his injury in ankle Ranji Trophy was Sharma’s last competitive match of this year, he went under an extensive rehabilitation procedure at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Delhi Capitals other probable like-for-like replacements for Sharma from the existing squad for opening match include Harshal Patel, Mohit Sharma and Avesh Khan. They named South African bowler Anrich Nortje as a replacement for England all-rounder Chris Woakes.
