CLT20: Praveen Kumar ruled out; Mumbai Indians name Pawan Suyal as replacement

Praveen Kumar

Mumbai Indians have named left-arm seamer Pawan Suyal as the replacement for Praveen Kumar, who injured his shoulder during the team’s first Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) qualifier match, against Lahore Lions, which they lost by 6 wickets.

Praveen wasn’t included in the following match against Southern Express, which the defending champions won by 9 wickets to keep their hopes of qualifying for the tournament main alive. Suyal, who represents Delhi in the Indian domestic circuit, has played 15 First Class matches and 9 Twenty20 matches and taken 55 and 8 wickets, respectively.

The Mumbai management issued a press release that stated: "Praveen Kumar sustained an injury to his right shoulder during Mumbai Indians first CLT20 qualifier match. He is undergoing a thorough medical assessment and reports are awaited.”

Suyal or Shreyas Gopal – The selection dilemma

The Kieron Pollard-led side now have to win the match against New Zealand national T20 champions Northern Knights, the last of the qualifier match that starts at 8 P.M tomorrow at Raipur, and hope that the Lions lose or don’t win by a big margin in their match against the Express, to make it to the main stages

It remains to be seen if the Mumbai-based side stick with leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who replaced the Uttar Pradesh seamer in the match against the Express but went for 29 in his 2 overs, or draft in Suyal and go in with a 3-man pace attack. Kiwi players would feel at home facing a pacer than a slower bowler, so the Mumbai think-tank will likely give Gopal another chance hoping that he replicates his IPL-form.