New Delhi: In a massive setback to Kolkata Knight Riders, its pace spearhead Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL after suffering a minor hip injury, a report in cricket.com.au said. Pat Cummins is set to leave for Australia and won't take part in the remaining two matches of KKR.
The Australian Test captain, who was roped in by KKR for Rs 7.25 crore, will return to Sydney for his rehabilitation ahead of the national team's tour of Sri Lanka next month, the report said. Cummins' recovery is expected to take a fortnight.
However, there has been no word from KKR on this matter.
KKR are on the brink of elimination, having just 10 points from 12 games. They will need to win the remaining two matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants and rely on performances of other teams to make it to the playoffs.
Cummins played only five matches in this IPL season and picked up seven wickets at a strike rate of 17.0. With the bat, he scored 63 runs.
The most memorable one was his whirlwind knock of 56 not out in 14 balls against Mumbai Indians -- the joint highest fifty in the history of the IPL. Cummins achieved the feat with the help of four fours and six sixes at a strike-rate of 373.33 on a pitch at MCA Pune where a majority of the batters in the match failed to score freely.
Daniel Sams was taken to the cleaners for 35 runs in the 16th over by Cummins, handing KKR a five-wicket win in the match.
After the Sri Lanka tour, Australia will look to defend their T20 World Cup title at home. Then they have a Test tour of India and an away Ashes campaign. The Aussies will then return to India for the ODI World Cup in October 2023.