Five major absentees from IPL 2020

Five major absentees from IPL 2020

The beginning of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is now less than two weeks away and the excitement is increasing among cricket fans all over the world to witness high-class action.

This year's IPL is set to be a different one compared to the previous editions, largely because of the circumstances in which the tournament will be played.

The competition will be organised in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) instead of India due to worsening coronavirus pandemic condition in the subcontinent.

The IPL will be held under strict protocols where all the teams will remain inside a biosecure bubble in order to ensure the safety of athletes and officials involved in the competition.

Like every year, this year's IPL will also feature some of the best players on the planet whereas a few big names will not be able to participate due to various reasons.

We have identified five big names who will not be able to take part in the IPL 2020.  

Jason Roy (Delhi Capitals)

First in the list features Delhi Capitals star opening batsman Jason Roy who will miss this year's competition due to a side strain injury. The 2019 World Cup-winning opener was signed by the Delhi franchise for more than $210,000 and will be replaced by young all-rounder from Australia Daniel Sams. Roy's absence will have a serious impact on the prospect of Capitals in the upcoming campaign where the batting lineup is relatively young.

Harbhajan Singh (Chennai Super

The beginning of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is now less than two weeks away and the excitement is increasing among cricket fans all over the world to witness high-class action.

This year's IPL is set to be a different one compared to the previous editions, largely because of the circumstances in which the tournament will be played.

The competition will be organised in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) instead of India due to worsening coronavirus pandemic condition in the subcontinent.

The IPL will be held under strict protocols where all the teams will remain inside a biosecure bubble in order to ensure the safety of athletes and officials involved in the competition.

Like every year, this year's IPL will also feature some of the best players on the planet whereas a few big names will not be able to participate due to various reasons.

We have identified five big names who will not be able to take part in the IPL 2020.  

Jason Roy (Delhi Capitals)

First in the list features Delhi Capitals star opening batsman Jason Roy who will miss this year's competition due to a side strain injury. The 2019 World Cup-winning opener was signed by the Delhi franchise for more than $210,000 and will be replaced by young all-rounder from Australia Daniel Sams. Roy's absence will have a serious impact on the prospect of Capitals in the upcoming campaign where the batting lineup is relatively young.

Harbhajan Singh (Chennai Super Kings)

Second in the list features Chennai Super Kings' veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. The 40-year-old has decided to withdraw from the competition on September 04, 2020, due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic. However, Super Kings have not announced any replacement for Singh. The 2011 World Cup-winning spinner has represented Chennai in 24 matches where he has managed to claim 23 wickets at a strike-rate of 19.78 along with an average of 7.67 with the best figures of 3-20.

Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)

Next is Mumbai Indians' veteran pacer Lasith Maling who will also not take part in this year's IPL because of personal reasons. The Sri Lanka international announced the decision on September 02, 2020. Mumbai have included Australia's pacer James Pattinson as a replacement of Malinga. The 37-year-old will be a big miss for the defending champions as he has an outstanding record of 170 wickets in just 122 matches at an impressive strike-rate of 16.62 for Mumbai in IPL.

Chris Woakes (Delhi Capitals)

Fourth in the list features England all-rounder Chris Woakes who will also miss the competition because of commitment with the national team. The 31-year-old's decision to withdraw from the competition was confirmed way back in March earlier this year and his franchise Delhi Capital have already signed South Africa's right-arm pacer Anrich Nortje as a replacement.

Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Last but not the least features Chennai Super Kings' veteran left-handed batsman Suresh Raina, who will not take part in this year's IPL because of personal reasons. The left-hander left the squad after the news emerged of his uncle's murder which he later confirmed as well. Raina has been a star performers for the Super Kings franchise over the years where he has managed to score 4,526 runs in 160 innings at an average of 33.27, which included one century and 32 half-centuries.    

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Azeem Siddiqui
Passionate sports follower in the field of sports journalism for more than five years. Loves writing about cricket, football, and tennis.
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