IPL 2018: 5 pacers who can replace KKR’s injured Mitchell Johnson

Just three weeks before the beginning of the IPL, there is some bad news for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The team which has already been under scrutiny after its auction strategy and Dinesh Karthik’s selection as Captain has faced another jolt in the form of an injury to veteran Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson.

If you don’t like blood & cuts then don’t look through these pics! Not the best thing I’ve ever done to myself but I’m am fine 👌🏼 #toohardtoexplain #dontfightchinupbar #stilldontknowhowitspossible #18.3grrrrr #baldspot🤔

A post shared by Mitchell Johnson (@mitchjohnson398) on Mar 11, 2018 at 10:04pm PDT

Johnson sustained a serious injury while he was working out in the gym on Tuesday. He slammed his head on the metal bar while doing chin-ups which left him with a deep cut on his head.

With little time left for recovery, KKR may now in all probability need to look for other pace bowling options who can take his place.

Here are five pacers who can likely replace Mitchell Johnson for KKR.

#1 Tymall Mills

Tymall Mills has raw pace and deceptive slower ones

They say Cricket is a great leveler. Tymall Mills who was bagged by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for 12 crores in 2017 found no takers this year despite his base price being fixed at one crore.

The reason why franchises gave him a cold shoulder was his ordinary performance in the previous IPL season.

In 2017, Mills played only five matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore in which he picked up as many wickets at an average over 30 and an economy rate close to nine.

While these numbers can be called nothing more than ordinary, the argument in his defense is that he was not given enough opportunities.

Given his raw pace and deceptive slower ones, he can turn his fortunes around this time if presented with sufficient chances by KKR.