In a blow to Mumbai Indians (MI), Australian National Cricket Team left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Behrendorff was one of the players expected to start for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the playing XI in the upcoming edition of the competition. Last year, he was good with the ball for the franchise as he bagged 14 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 27.64, an economy of 9.21 and a strike rate of 18.00 with the best bowling figures from 3/23.
Behrendorff’s absence is the second blow to the Mumbai Indians’ bowling department as Sri Lanka national cricket team’s left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka will also miss the first matches of IPL 2024. The Sri Lanka star Dilshan Madushanka has suffered a left hamstring injury and is expected to be out of action for 4 to 6 weeks.
Luke Wood replaces Jason Behrendorff in Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for IPL 2024
To cope with the absence of Jason Behrendorff, Mumbai Indians (MI) have brought in 28-year-old England National Cricket Team left-arm pacer Luke Wood into the team. The pacer was recently seen in action for Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024.
In 11 Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 matches, Luke Wood took 12 wickets at an average of 29.08, economy of 8.24 and strike rate of 21.16, with best bowling figures of 2 /13. Luke Wood will join the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise for INR 50 lakh.
“Mumbai Indians (MI) name Luke Wood as replacement for the injured Jason Behrendorff for the upcoming TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Wood, a left-arm pacer, has played 5 T20Is for England, apart from 2 ODIs, and has 8 T20I wickets next to his name. Wood will join MI for INR 50 Lac,” reads the official press release of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
: Luke Wood replaces the injured Jason Behrendorff.
Wishing Jason a speedy recovery 💙#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @lwood_95 pic.twitter.com/PoerY91O88
– Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 18, 2024
Wood brings a wealth of experience, having played 140 matches in T20 cricket and amassed 147 wickets at an average of 25.87, an economy of 8.45 and a strike rate of 18.3, with the best bowling figures of 5/50.
Talking about Mumbai Indians (MI), they will be led by star all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The franchise made him captain by removing five-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma. .
Mumbai Indians (MI) have not been able to perform to the best of their abilities in the last few seasons and will hope to bounce back strongly and win their first IPL trophy since 2020 when they defeated the Shreyas Iyer-led side. Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final.
Hardik Pandya recently attended a press conference along with head coach Mark Boucher and they talked about several things. During the interaction, Hardik Pandya also said that things are good between him and Rohit Sharma and he is looking forward to the former MI captain’s guidance as he leads the team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Furthermore, Rohit Sharma joined to the franchise on Monday, March 18.