Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma (Source: Twitter)

Delhi Capitals suffered a major setback ahead of their IPL 2020 opener as their pace spearhead Ishant Sharma was sidelined due to an injury. Although it is not clear how long Ishant Sharma will take to recover from it, a Delhi Capitals official said that the franchise is unwilling to risk him early in the season.

The franchise official told ANI that Ishant Sharma might miss out a couple of games more before making a comeback to the side. He also mentioned that Delhi Capitals will not rush him as he has been a vital cog for the side.

Ishant Sharma, Delhi Capitals, IPL 2020,
Ishant Sharma. photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.

“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,” a Delhi Capitals official told ANI.

“No, 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 explained.

The Delhi fast bowler can be sidelined for a long period of time after he injured his back during a training in Dubai on the eve of their opening contest. He has faced a number of injuries in the recent past and had to be sidelined for the same reason.

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Ryan Harris
Ryan Harris with Ishant Sharma (Credits: Twitter)

He took the last blow during January, when he injured his ankle and then returned to play in New Zealand before taking a blow in the same area, all over again. The repeated injuries comes as a major cause of concern for the 32-year-old Delhi fast bowler.

Ishant will be kept under supervision of the medical staffs and his recovery progress will be tracked. He was supposed to be a key man for the Delhi franchise and spearhead their bowling attack. A lot will depend upon South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada now to put up a show for his franchise.