What’s the story?
Veteran seamer Ashish Nehra is set to miss Sunrisers Hyderabad’s upcoming match against table-toppers Mumbai Indians. The franchise's mentor VVS Laxman shed some light into the left-armer’s issues with his hamstring. While further medical scans could reveal the extent of the injury, he is under a fitness cloud as the season races towards the play-off stage.armer’s issues with his hamstring. While further medical scans could reveal the extent of the injury, he is under a fitness cloud as the season races towards the play-off stage.into the left-armer’s issues with his hamstring. While further medical scans could reveal the extent of the injury, he is under a fitness cloud as the season races towards the play-off stage.
Ahead of the game, Laxman affirmed, “Tomorrow the physio is going to take him for a scan. Then we'll know the extent of the injury and what’s the future course for him. But yesterday he felt stiffness and pull in the hamstring. It's not the hamstring which he got operated last year. This is a different injury.”
On his team’s precarious position in the race for play-offs, he insisted, “We are not thinking too much about the points table. We just want to take each game as it comes. We know that our next game against Mumbai Indians is an important game. Once we execute our plans, I am sure we will get the desired results.”play-offs, he insisted, “We are not thinking too much about the points table. We just want to take each game as it comes. We know that our next game against Mumbai Indians is an important game. Once we execute our plans, I am sure we will get the desired results.”
The Background
During SRH’s previous game against Rising Pune Supergiant at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, Nehra pulled his hamstring and hence was not able to complete his spell.
After bowling 1.1 overs, he found himself walking off the field. All-rounder Moises Henriques completed the over while the hosts fell short by 12 runs in the end.
The heart of the matter
During last year’s edition of the IPL, Nehra suffered a ‘significant hamstring tendon injury’ towards the latter phases. As a result, he missed the last two group games and the ensuing play-offs. Despite his absence, the Sunrisers went on to lift the trophy.play-offs. Despite his absence, the Sunrisers went on to lift the trophy.
Meanwhile, the fast bowler successfully underwent a surgery on his injured tendon and returned to competitive cricket at the end of the year.
The 38-year old has played six matches in this IPL season and picked up 8 wickets at an average of 24.62 and economy rate of 9.30. Due to fitness issues, he did not feature consistently in the playing eleven. With 13 points from 12 games, SRH are currently at fourth in the points table.
What’s next?
Sunrisers play host to the in-form Mumbai Indians at 2000 IST on Monday. If they do not emerge on the winning side, David Warner’s team will have to rely on various permutations and combinations to seal a place in the play-offs. Their final group game will be against Gujarat Lions at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on the 13th.
Author’s Take
Factoring into account, Nehra’s history of recurring injuries, his chances of returning to the team appear to be rather slim. With the season approaching the business end, Sunrisers will be hoping that their most experienced bowler can find a way back.
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