Shoulder injury to delay Kohli’s IPL

New Delhi
India captain Virat Kohli’s availability for IPL-10 will be known only in the second week of this month as he undergoes rehabilitation for an injured shoulder, BCCI said today.
Updating the fitness status of the Indian players, who took part in the just-concluded home Test series against Australia, BCCI said Kohli will undergo rehabilitation for the injury sustained during the Ranchi Test.
Vijay out with injury
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was set to represent Rising Pune Supergiants, will not be available for the entire IPL due to recurrence of sports hernia while Test openers Murali Vijay (last year’s captain of Kings XI Punjab) and KL Rahul (RCB) are also virtually ruled out due to imminent shoulder surgeries.
Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Umesh Yadav and Gujarat Lions’ Ravindra Jadeja have been given some time to freshen up and will not be available for their respective franchises in the first couple of matches. However, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and his teammate Hardik Pandya have been cleared to play for the full IPL season.
Pujara should go and play county cricket: Azhar
Mumbai: A stint in the English county cricket when he is not part of any IPL franchise would do Cheteshwar Pujara a world of good to counter the moving and bouncing balls in future when he tours overseas, feels former captain Mohammed Azharuddin. “I would like those who are not playing IPL, especially Pujara, to go and play county cricket in England. He would encounter different types of wickets especially in April and May which will give him good experience and exposure,” Azhar said.
Might have to open in Virat and Rahul’s absence: Watson
Bengaluru: Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson hinted that he will be opening the innings alongside Chris Gayle in the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. “In the absence of Virat and Rahul, there are chances that I would be asked to bat at the top. However, I will be happy to bat at any position,” Watson said.