IPL 2018: Aaron Finch to miss KXIP's opening match

Kings XI Punjab will be without the services of Australian opener Aaron Finch for their opening encounter in IPL 2018. Finch, according to cricket.com.au, is all set to tie the knot with long-time partner, Amy, on April 7, a day before his side's curtain-raiser against Delhi Daredevils.

Finch was initially of the belief that the T20 extravaganza would only commence on April 15th, which is why he set the date a week earlier, only to be made aware of the new schedule much later.

“I saw the fixture this morning - there’s no chance I’ll be missing my wedding,” the 31-year-old was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au.

“That’d be a bit tough leaving Amy at the altar, wouldn’t it? The second game we play is on the 13th, that’ll give me plenty of time to get over there and miss only one game luckily," he went on to add.

Finch's Australia teammate Glenn Maxwell, who will serve as the Master of Ceremonies at the wedding, will also be absent for the opening encounter.

With a packed international calendar and cricket being played right through the year, players are finding it increasingly difficult to fit in their personal commitments. Earlier, Steve Smith and his fiance Dani Willis announced their plans to enter wedlock sometime in September but Willis was worried about the Australian captain's availability during that period.

George Bailey too announced that he would be skipping the entire cricketing season to be with his wife who is set to deliver the couple's second child.

“I reckon there would have been a time where I would have chosen cricket over family. But now it’s not even a decision, really. I love spending time with my family and I think it’s had a really positive impact on my cricket,” said Bailey.

Finch, despite his obvious prowess in the international circuit, has failed to set the IPL alight, turning out for six different teams over the course of the ten seasons, and, hopefully, his upcoming stint with KXIP will have a different outcome.