Even before the start of IPL 2023, the number of injured players has increased and almost every team has to find some replacement. Punjab Kings have chosen replacement in the form of Matthew Short of Australia.
Image Credit source: Instagram/Matt Short
New Delhi: Despite the continuous failure in the Indian Premier League, everyone’s eyes will be on Punjab Kings. This team, captained by Shikhar Dhawan, spends a lot on players in every auction but still misses out on the title. This time also Punjab has done the same and everyone is waiting for its result. Punjab, however, have suffered a setback even before the start of their campaign on the field as their star batsman Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the entire tournament. Instead, Punjab has included Australian batsman Matthew Short.
Last year, England veteran batsman Johnny Bairstow, who played for Punjab, was injured while playing golf just before the T20 World Cup. Due to this, he is out of the field for the last about 6 months. His condition has improved but Bairstow withdrew from the IPL 2023 season due to keeping himself fully fit for the Ashes.
Player of the tournament in BBL
Punjab Kings confirmed Bairstow’s exit from the tournament by posting a video on Saturday 25 March. Along with this, Punjab also announced the selection of Australian batsman Matthew Short as his replacement. The 27-year-old short was not a part of the auction held in December 2022. His name did not even figure in the list of 991 players who were to be auctioned. During this he was playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
Recovering from the disappointment of the IPL auction, Short scored 458 runs in 14 innings including a century in the last season of BBL and finished second. He was also recently selected as the Player of the Tournament for BBL 12 at the Australian Cricket Awards.
🚨IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚨
We regret to inform you that Jonny Bairstow will not be a part of the IPL this season because of his injury. We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him next season.
We are pleased to welcome Matthew Short as his replacement.
#PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/NnUMjCe8jV
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 25, 2023
Explosive Batsman, Useful Bowler
Right-handed top order batsman Short will now get a chance to play in IPL for the first time. He has not yet made his international debut for Australia. With Short’s arrival, the Punjab Kings will not only get a dynamic batsman, who has scored 1409 runs in 67 T20 matches at a strike rate of 136, but also a useful off-spinner, who took 11 wickets in addition to scoring 458 runs last season. Were. Punjab has to play its first match against Kolkata Knight Riders on 1 April.
