Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL campaign has been ended by injury.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad seamer will play no further part in IPL 2020 due to a thigh muscle issue.
Kumar picked up an injury against the Chennai Super Kings at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 2.
He was unable to complete a fourth and final over after he'd taken the wicket of destructive Chennai opener Shane Watson earlier.
He hobbled from the field and it has since been confirmed that he picked up an injury to his thigh that could take six to eight weeks to heal.
Kumar is among the top five wicket-takers in the history of the IPL and has 136 wickets in 121 matches after previous stints with Pune Warriors as well as Delhi.
He has now been replaced in the SH squad by Prithvi Raj Yarra.
The Andhra Pradesh bowler has taken 39 wickets in 11 first-class matches and is now expected to join up with Hyderabad in the UAE as soon as possible.
A statement from Hyderabad’s twitter feed read: “Bhuvneshwar Kumar is ruled out of #Dream11IPL 2020 due to injury. We wish him a speedy recovery! Prithvi Raj Yarra will replace Bhuvi for the remainder of the season.”
The thigh injury has also left the pace bowler facing a race against time to be fit for his country following the IPL.
He may now be struggling to make the start of India’s tour of Australia, which is due to begin on November 27. Players are set to fly out directly from the IPL to Australia for three T20Is, three ODIs and four Tests.
Bhuvneshwar is the second injury blow for Sunrisers at this year's competition. His absence follows the loss of Mitchell Marsh.
The Australian hurt his ankle in the very first match and has had to be replaced by Jason Holder.
Mishra Also Out of IPL 2020
It is not only Sunrisers that have been hit by injuries lately.
Delhi Capitals have also lost spinner Amit Mishra for the rest of IPL 2020.
The Delhi Capitals player picked up a finger injury that has also called time on his Indian Premier League campaign.
The leg-spinner has a flexor tendon injury on the ring finger of his bowling hand. He suffered the injury when trying to take a return catch against Kolkata Knight Riders on October 3.
