![[JUGRAJ SINGH]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/m/123/123038.jpg?1591210006){kind=avatar}
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been dealt a big blow ahead of this year's Indian Premier League. They have lost their pace spearhead Mitchell Starc and are sweating over West Indian leg-spinner Samuel Badree, who injured himself in the World T20 final against England on Sunday (April 3).
Starc, who has been out of action since fracturing his foot in last November's day-night Test in Adelaide against New Zealand, is on rehab following surgery to his ankle. His absence will be a huge setback for RCB as he was the team's most economical bowler with 20 scalps from 12 innings last season.
Starc has been named in the 16-man Australia One-Day International (ODI) squad for the tri-series against South Africa and hosts West Indies beginning on June 3 and it seems as if Cricket Australia would like their premier fast bowler to skip IPL to be in good shape for the crucial tour.
The RCB think-tank has not decided on an immediate replacement for Starc as the team has a healthy pool of pacers. Apart from India's Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron and Sreenath Arvind, the other pacers in the squad are Adam Milne of New Zealand, the Aussie duo of Shane Watson and Kane Richardson and South African David Wiese.
With a week to go for their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 12), the uncertainty over Badree is another worry for the Virat Kohli-led side. The West Indian, who was on a roll in the WT20 final, bagging two wickets, injured his shoulder while attempting a catch off England's Liam Plunkett. RCB are unsure about the extent of his injury but according to sources, the bowler, who is back in the Caribbean, is expected to be with the squad before the start of the T20 bash.
On Monday, RCB, barring Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, kick-started their preparations at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. Players including Indian stars KL Rahul and Stuart Binny went through their paces in the presence of coach Daniel Vettori.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Travis Head, who earned his maiden Australia call-up for the upcoming Caribbean tour, and Wiese are expected to join the camp on Tuesday. Star players Shane Watson of Australia and Gayle will reach Bengaluru on Wednesday. Kohli will join the team on Thursday followed by de Villiers and Milne.
Starc, who has been out of action since fracturing his foot in last November's day-night Test in Adelaide against New Zealand, is on rehab following surgery to his ankle. His absence will be a huge setback for RCB as he was the team's most economical bowler with 20 scalps from 12 innings last season.
Starc has been named in the 16-man Australia One-Day International (ODI) squad for the tri-series against South Africa and hosts West Indies beginning on June 3 and it seems as if Cricket Australia would like their premier fast bowler to skip IPL to be in good shape for the crucial tour.
The RCB think-tank has not decided on an immediate replacement for Starc as the team has a healthy pool of pacers. Apart from India's Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron and Sreenath Arvind, the other pacers in the squad are Adam Milne of New Zealand, the Aussie duo of Shane Watson and Kane Richardson and South African David Wiese.
With a week to go for their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 12), the uncertainty over Badree is another worry for the Virat Kohli-led side. The West Indian, who was on a roll in the WT20 final, bagging two wickets, injured his shoulder while attempting a catch off England's Liam Plunkett. RCB are unsure about the extent of his injury but according to sources, the bowler, who is back in the Caribbean, is expected to be with the squad before the start of the T20 bash.
On Monday, RCB, barring Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, kick-started their preparations at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. Players including Indian stars KL Rahul and Stuart Binny went through their paces in the presence of coach Daniel Vettori.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Travis Head, who earned his maiden Australia call-up for the upcoming Caribbean tour, and Wiese are expected to join the camp on Tuesday. Star players Shane Watson of Australia and Gayle will reach Bengaluru on Wednesday. Kohli will join the team on Thursday followed by de Villiers and Milne.
![[JUGRAJ SINGH]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/s/123/123038.jpg?1591210006){kind=avatar}