Fast bowler Navdeep Saini's participation in the Royal Challengers Bangalore's Indian Premier League fixture against the Mumbai Indians on 28 October is in doubt.
Saini is nursing a hand injury sustained during recent defeat to the Chennai Super Kings.
“Saini has split his webbing in the last ball there. He obviously got hit on the thumb on the right hand. He has just split the webbing over there,” head physiotherapist Evan Speechly told RCB TV.
“Fortunately, we had a good hand surgeon, he stitched up nicely. So we could just monitor over the night and check it after getting ready for the next game.”
Kohli had a Similar Injury
Bangalore Virat Kohli had a similar injury during the 2016 IPL. His right hand required eight stitches. He continued to play despite the injury.
“Virat, four or five years ago, he had it in Kolkata, we managed to stop the bleeding and he smashed a 100 after we got a plastic surgeon who had stitched it,” added Speechly.
“Unfortunately you cannot compare the two injuries. Some people can manage it and some can't. It's also because Saini's injury is on his bowling hand so it puts a lot of pressure on him so I cannot be sure when he will be good to go. I am hoping that he will be good to play in the next game and the rest of the tournament.”
Saini has been capped 15 times at ODI and T20I level. His last 10 matches for RCB have yielded just four wickets.
Bangalore have never won the IPL despite reaching three finals. They remain in contention for a berth in the IPL 2020 playoffs.
IPL's Other Injuries
Mumbai are the reigning champions, but are currently without captain Rohit Sharma. He has been sidelined by a hamstring injury. West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard is leading the XI in Sharma's absence.
The Kings XI Punjab have played a couple of matches without opening batsman Mayank Agarwal, who is also nursing an injury. Punjab have won five consecutive matches to stay in the running for a spot in the IPL 2020 playoffs.
The Chennai Super Kings, who have lost West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo to injury, are out of the running for a berth in this season's playoffs.
