IPL 2017: 5 possible replacements for injured KKR batsman Chris Lynn
It offers its moments of honour; it presents its days of gloom. Along with the highs that it has to offer, the sporting field, very cruelly, remains intertwined with the abysmal depths of heartbreaks, injuries and failures.
Just days after announcing his arrival in the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League with aplomb, Kolkata Knight Riders’ Chris Lynn injured his left shoulder in the team’s second match against Mumbai Indians.
Diving to stop a ball that had been struck by Jos Buttler, Lynn hurt his shoulder in a terrible fall, immediately leaving the field with an ice pack taped to his shoulder. After scoring 125 in 2 innings, with an astonishing average of 125, Lynn’s third injury to his left shoulder in a span of 18 months was enough to send panic waves around the KKR dressing room. Although coach Jacques Kallis remains hopeful of his quick recovery, it would be foolish to assume that Lynn can be back to his destructive self soon.
With Andre Russell missing out – banned for a year by the ICC for violating a doping code violation – it was Lynn’s opportunity to stamp his authority while opening the innings for the franchise. The Man of the Tournament in the Big Bash had begun his Indian journey in the right earnest before destiny decided to run riot.
His heartfelt tweet, moments after his injury, displayed his disappointment, reinforcing once again that sport remains defined by uncertainty and unpredictability.
It remains to be seen whether Lynn will be ruled out of the whole tournament, or if he can make a comeback in the next couple of weeks. In case of the former, the Gautam Gambhir-led team can turn to these five players as worthy replacements for the Australian.
#1 Alex Hales (England)
The 2017 IPL auctions threw up a massive surprise when English opener Alex Hales remained unsold. Having destroyed bowlers with his cuts and drives through the offside, Hales was termed as an explosive batsman that could walk into any IPL team.
The 6 foot 5 inch cricketer has astonishing T20 records to go with his hard hitting intent. Averaging 28.34 in over 147 T20 games to date, Hales’ strike rate of 137.95 tells its own tale. A century in the shortest format of the game – wherein he notched up 116 from just 64 deliveries – in the T20 World Cup in 2014 firmly established the Englishman as a destructive opener in the format.
With Kolkata Knight Riders in dire need of a pinch hitter in the top order – a major reason Sunil Narine was asked to open for the team in Lynn’s absence – Hales could be an effective replacement for the Australian. With powerful shots in his arsenal and the ability to swing the ball out of the park at will, the 28-year-old brings with him truckloads of experience that can strengthen an already mighty KKR team.