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This is an archive article published on April 3, 2012

Leave without play

Injuries and players national commitments have more often than not thwarted the IPL from putting out a star-cast. During IPL V

Injuries and players national commitments have more often than not thwarted the IPL from putting out a star-cast. During IPL V,the three-match West Indies-Australia Test series,scheduled between April 7-27,the Caribbean posses Test tour to England in May and the second Test match between England and Sri Lanka to a lesser extent will ensure that some of the teams will have to do without a full squad at different times during IPL V.

Mumbai Indians

Harbhajan Singhs team will be the least affected with all 10 of their foreign players expected to be available for the full length of the tournament unless limited-over specialists Clint McKay and Kieron Pollard get surprise call-ups to their respective Test teams.

Royal Challengers

With Chris Gayle unlikely to turn up in West Indian colours anytime soon,RCB should have a full compliment of players. Barring their opening game against Delhi Daredevils at home that is,with Tillakaratane Dilshan expected to join the team only after April 7.

Deccan Chargers

Deccan Chargers will be without skipper Kumar Sangakkara for their season opener at home against Chennai Super Kings with the Sri Lanka-England Test at the P Sara Oval scheduled. Darren Bravo,however,could miss close to 11 league games due to international commitments.

Kings XI Punjab

Punjab will be without strike bowlers,Ryan Harris and Stuart Broad for at least the first half. Harris is part of the Australian Test squad in the Caribbean and will miss at least nine matches,while Broad is suffering from a calf strain.

Rajathan Royals

Shane Watsons absence for at least eight of the league matches will be a major blow. The Australian vice-captain will only arrive in India after April 27 though young Lankan wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal should be available from the third match onwards.

Chennai Super Kings

Michael Hussey will arrive after April 28 and will miss up to 10 league games while pacer Ben Hilfenhaus too will be away in the Caribbean. Super Kings can only hope that all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is not considered for the Tests by the West Indian selectors. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv will miss the first two games.

Kolkata Knight Riders

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KKR will be quite confident of retaining mystery spinner Sunil Narine for the entirety,though pace sensation James Pattinson will miss 10 games. Its unlikely that wicket-keeper Brad Haddin,who returned home from the Caribbean citing personal problems,will turn up for the IPL this time around.

Pune Warriors India

Graeme Smiths injury will ensure that Pune will be without their most accomplished foreign player this time. IPL debutant Michael Clarke is expected to miss seven matches at least before he arrives following the Tests in the Caribbean. Jamaican batsman Marlon Samuels,Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews and Australian James Hopes has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Delhi Daredevils

Kevin Pietersen and Mahela Jayawardene will miss Delhis first two games,while the former will also miss the second half of the season. Ross Taylor will miss the whole of IPL-V courtesy a broken hand. David Warners absence will be felt in Delhis first nine matches.

 

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