Following a long list of Australian players to leave the IPL, Marcus Stoinis has also pulled out of the league and gone back home. Cricbuzz reported the Kings XI all-rounder leaving his side because of ‘personal unavoidable circumstances‘.
Earlier in the day, his team-mate Glenn Maxwell also returned to Australia citing side strain. Yet another Aussie in the Kings XI set-up, Shaun Marsh too had left the tournament last month due to a back injury.
Even though they are already out of the reckoning for a playoff spot, Stoinis will certainly be missed by the KXIP management because of his all round skills. The 26-year old had scored 146 runs from five innings at a healthy strike rate of 135.18.
In addition to his exploits with the bat, he also picked up eight wickets at an economy-rate of 8.43 in this season. However, Stoinis played a massive role in his team’s victory over Delhi Daredevils wherein he supplemented a half century with a three-wicket haul.
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The right-arm medium pacer also dismantled the middle-order of Mumbai Indians with a brilliant spell in Vizag. Consequently, he was named Man of the Match on both occasions for his game-changing performances.
The available overseas recruits for KXIP comprise of David Miller, Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Mitchell Johnson and Farhaan Behardien. It will be interesting to see if Johnson makes a comeback into the playing eleven.
Stoinis is not part of Australia’s squad for the upcoming tri-series in West Indies in which South Africa will also participate. But given the number of injuries to key players, the Australian selectors may decide to keep him as a standby in case their all-rounders do not recover in time.
He had represented his country in an ODI and T20I each during the limited-overs leg of Australia’s tour to England. However, Stoinis has been in fine form for the last couple of months which could add a few more international caps to his tally.
Meanwhile, Kings XI travel to Bengaluru to take on the Royal Challengers before finishing their season against Rising Pune Supergiants in Vizag. They are currently fighting to avoid a last place finish and need to win at least one of those matches to do so.
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