What’s the story?
In an interesting turn of events, KKR batsman Chris Lynn may not be ruled out of IPL 2017 after his injury as Kolkata Knight Riders coach Jacques Kallis said that “it’s not as bad” as it was initially feared. However, the legendary South African all-rounder also added that the team are in no mood to rush him back to the side.
Speaking to reporters ahead of KKR’s game against Kings XI Punjab, Kallis said, “He has gone for his scan. It’s not as bad as we thought. Our medical staff is working overtime to see how quickly we can get him ready and if we can get him ready. There is a good chance he will play a role for us this season.”
“It's still too early to assess. We are not going to rush him. When he feels he is ready to play, the medical staff will qualify when there is a possibility of him playing, we will certainly play him when we can,” Kallis added.
Extra cover: Chris Lynn set for lengthy layoff after another shoulder injury
In case you didn’t know...
Chris Lynn sustained an injury during the game against Mumbai Indians, trying to attempt a spectacular catch to dismiss Jos Buttler. It was earlier thought that it might be the end of the tournament for the batsman with the coach himself admitting that these were “nervous times” as he injured a part of his body that is “notoriously difficult” to heal.
The heart of the matter
After being promoted to open the innings along with Gautam Gambhir, Chris Lynn immediately showcased his class as he got his team off to a flyer in both games. Having previously injured his shoulder as well, many expected this to be the death knell on his chances of playing again in IPL 2017 but all that might just change.
Extra Cover: KKR's Chris Lynn injures himself trying to take a catch
What’s next?
Having lost their last game against Mumbai Indians on Sunday (April 9), KKR will be looking to get back on track with a win over the only undefeated team in the IPL right now, Kings XI Punjab.
Author’s Take
Initially, it looked as though the tournament was done for Lynn but this latest development is good news for both the player and the team. While Lynn has an outside shot of making it into the Australian Champions Trophy squad with a strong finish to the tournament, it also means KKR don't have to go all out and look for a replacement.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
