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The 17th edition of Indian Premier League is all set to kickstart in a month’s time with Chennai Super Kings eyeing to defend their title. However, the schedule for IPL 2024 is yet to be announced, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal on Tuesday, February 20 confirmed that the tournament will be held entirely in India, starting March 22.
With only a month left in the tournament now, all ten franchises will eye to field their best XI. But as it approaches, franchises are now looking to start their training camps, but the defending champions have been jolted with a massive blow as their star all-rounder, Shivam Dube is likely to miss the start of IPL 2024.
As per reports citing Times of India, Dube suffered a bilateral side strain and will thus miss Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy season, followed by a part of IPL 2024. The 30-year-old sustained the injury while batting in the Mumbai versus Assam match, where he even smashed a century. “Dube has bilateral side strain injury and is likely to be out of the rest of the Ranji Trophy season,” a source was quoted by TOI.
Amid this, reports further state that Sarfaraz Khan , who went unsold in the IPL 2024 auction despite registering for a base price of INR 20 Lakh, will replace Dube in the MS Dhoni-led side. Sarfaraz Khan has been closely linked with Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. As reported by Bengal daily Anandabazar Patrika, Sarfaraz Khan is being scouted by KKR while MS Dhoni has also given a nod to get in the Mumbai batter.
Khan, who recently made his international debut in the third Test against England in Rajkot, has so far made 50 appearances in IPL between 2015 and 2023. He featured for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023, scoring 53 runs in the four innings at an average of 13.25 and strike rate of 85.48.