David Willey set to sit out the beginning of IPL 2024 with Lucknow Super Giants due to personal reasons.
Aoba Tanaka
2 min read
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will start their IPL 2024 season without the help of David Willey, the English left-arm fast bowler. Willey, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last two IPL seasons, was bought by LSG at his base price of INR 2 crore (£190,000 approx) during the December auction in Dubai.
David Willey will be unavailable due to personal reasons.
The news about Willey’s absence was shared by LSG’s new head coach, Justin Langer. He explained that Willey’s recent hectic schedule was the reason for his unavailability. Willey has been traveling for the past two months, playing for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Multan Sultans in the ILT20 and PSL tournaments. Although this is a setback, there is a chance that Willey could join the squad later in the tournament.
Willey’s absence further complicates LSG’s pace bowling issues, as he joins fellow Englishman Mark Wood on the injured list. Wood was taken out of the tournament by the ECB to manage his workload before the T20 World Cup. With Wood out, LSG has brought in Shamar Joseph, the West Indies fast bowler, as his replacement.
Discussing the team’s fast bowling unit, Langer acknowledged the lack of seasoned players but expressed confidence in the talent available. He highlighted Mayank Yadav, the 21-year-old Delhi fast bowler, as a promising option to bring pace in Wood’s absence.
As LSG gears up for their first game against Rajasthan Royals, Langer stressed the importance of managing the players well throughout the tournament. Even though some key players are missing, LSG is hopeful about their chances and is determined to make the most of the talent within their squad.
LSG will begin their IPL 2024 season by facing Rajasthan Royals in an afternoon match on Sunday. The team is traveling to Jaipur this week to prepare for the highly anticipated clash.
