Rajasthan Royals' hope of regaining the IPL trophy received a huge blow as their hard-hitting opener Graeme Smith and all-rounder Dmitri Mascarenhas were ruled out of the ongoing Twenty20 tournament due to injuries. Smith fractured his right middle finger when he took a brilliant catch to dismiss opener Virender Sehwag, while Mascarenhas injured his ankle when he attempted a quick second run but was run out during the match against Delhi Daredevils here yesterday. According to reports, Smith has aggravated his finger injury sustained during South Africa's tour to India early this year. With the injuries to these two key players, the Rajasthan Royals' chances in the ongoing third edition of IPL looked in doldrums as they are without the services of two another crucial players all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was banned from this year's tournament and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who is yet to join the team.
Rajasthan Royals will not be allowed replacements for Graeme Smith and Dmitri Mascarenhas, who have been ruled out for the rest of the Indian Premier League because of injuries. A top IPL official confirmed to DNA that the struggling former champions cannot avail any replacement at this stage of the tournament.
The Royals said they will soon be getting reinforcements as some of their foreign recruits are on their way to India. According to them, Johan Botha (South Africa off-spinner) and Adam Voges (Australian all-rounder) will be joining the squad in the next few days. Besides, there is ‘immediate backup’ in the form of Damien Martyn and Michael Lumb. The team is also hoping that star all-rounder Shane Watson will be back in time to give a boost to their campaign. The Australian is expected to join the squad by April 2. “No decision has been made about seeking replacement. We have enough back-up,” Sean Morris, the chief executive of the team, said. Earlier, an RR spokesman said Smith would return to South Africa after fracturing his finger while taking a catch during Royals’ match against Delhi Daredevils in Ahmedabad on Monday night.
Rajasthan Royals will not be allowed replacements for Graeme Smith and Dmitri Mascarenhas, who have been ruled out for the rest of the Indian Premier League because of injuries. A top IPL official confirmed to DNA that the struggling former champions cannot avail any replacement at this stage of the tournament.
The Royals said they will soon be getting reinforcements as some of their foreign recruits are on their way to India. According to them, Johan Botha (South Africa off-spinner) and Adam Voges (Australian all-rounder) will be joining the squad in the next few days. Besides, there is ‘immediate backup’ in the form of Damien Martyn and Michael Lumb. The team is also hoping that star all-rounder Shane Watson will be back in time to give a boost to their campaign. The Australian is expected to join the squad by April 2. “No decision has been made about seeking replacement. We have enough back-up,” Sean Morris, the chief executive of the team, said. Earlier, an RR spokesman said Smith would return to South Africa after fracturing his finger while taking a catch during Royals’ match against Delhi Daredevils in Ahmedabad on Monday night.
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