IPL
Kane Williamson ruled out of IPL 2023
|| CF DESK ||
Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the entire season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after picking up a knee injury, according to reports.
The incident occurred during the first match of the IPL between defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Williamson fell awkwardly on his knee while trying to save a six in the 13th over of the match when he tried to catch the ball at mid-wicket boundary before flicking it and himself going over the ropes.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said Williamson's injury "is a big blow" for the team. Obviously, Kane [Williamson] got injured last night in the IPL in the first game. First thoughts are obviously with him," Stead said.
"We're not sure at this stage about the severity of the injury. He is being assessed in the next sort of 24-48 hours, so we will know more after that. All we know at this stage is his right knee. It's early in the tournament and unfortunately I can't give you much more than that until we find out more information… You don't wish it on anyone, let alone your captain of the white-ball team Kane Williamson. So, yeah, it's a big blow for him and it's a big blow for us," he added.
The Titans started their campaign on an impressive note after beating CSK by five wickets. After being asked to chase down 179, they romped home with four balls remaining.
Williamson, who made his IPL debut in 2015, has played in a total of 77 matches, in which he has scored 2101 runs at an average of 36.22 and a strike rate of 126.03.
Williamson, who made his IPL debut in 2015, has played in a total of 77 matches, in which he has scored 2101 runs at an average of 36.22 and a strike rate of 126.03.