The Mumbai Indians faced a setback in their chase of a formidable target of 234 as they were plagued by injuries to key players Ishan Kishan and Cameron Green. Ishan suffered a freak injury after colliding with teammate Chris Jordan during the first innings, while Green was struck on the arm by a delivery from Hardik Pandya early on in their batting.
In the IPL 2023 Qualifier held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, chose to bowl first after winning the toss. The Gujarat Titans set a daunting target for Mumbai to chase.
The unfortunate collision between Ishan and Jordan occurred as they were walking past each other between overs. Jordan, unaware of Ishan's presence as he was wiping his face with a towel, accidentally struck Ishan's left eye region with his left elbow. Ishan immediately left the field and headed to the dressing room. As the Mumbai Indians' innings commenced, Nehal Wadhera, the Impact Substitute, took his place in the batting order. Later, Vishnu Vinod was designated as a concussion substitute for Ishan.
Meanwhile, Green entered the game after Wadhera's dismissal at the first-down position. However, he faced an unfortunate incident when a delivery from Hardik Pandya struck his arm just below the elbow. The ball, traveling at a speed of 146kph, left a bruise on Green's arm. The Australian batsman promptly left the field to receive treatment, with Kevin Pietersen mentioning in the commentary box that the injury might be more severe than a simple bruise.
Fortunately for Mumbai, Green managed to overcome the injury and returned to the field after the fall of the third wicket. This was a relief not only for the Mumbai Indians but also for Australia, as they rely on Green's contribution in the upcoming Ashes series and the World Test Championship final. Green's innings concluded with a score of 30 runs off 20 balls.
The injuries to Ishan Kishan and Cameron Green have raised concerns about their availability for the World Test Championship. Fans and cricket enthusiasts are eagerly following the latest updates regarding their recovery and potential participation in the crucial tournament.
As the Mumbai Indians continue their pursuit of victory, the impact of these injuries on their batting lineup and the subsequent strategies employed by both teams will be closely observed. Stay tuned for further updates on this IPL clash and the players' road to recovery.