The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has witnessed another England fast bowler, Gus Atkinson, withdrawing from the tournament. Following Mark Wood’s decision, Atkinson, a promising 26-year-old, has opted out just ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled for June. The IPL authorities officially announced Atkinson’s withdrawal, revealing that Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera would be his replacement in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad.
In an IPL press release, it was stated, “Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Dushmantha Chameera as a replacement for England pacer Gus Atkinson for the upcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.” Chameera, known for his pace and ability to trouble batsmen with swing and seam movements, comes in at a reserve price of INR 50 Lakh.
The Sri Lankan fast bowler has previously played for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 and 2021 IPL seasons, respectively, and represented Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 season.
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The reason behind Atkinson’s withdrawal was not specified in the official release, similar to Mark Wood’s case. However, English media reports suggest that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the decision to manage Atkinson’s workload ahead of the upcoming ICC tournament.
🚨 NEWS 🚨@KKRiders name Dushmantha Chameera as replacement for Gus Atkinson.
More details 🔽 #TATAIPLhttps://t.co/ioBPp22mGi
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 19, 2024
Dushmantha Chameera’s inclusion adds firepower to the KKR bowling lineup, featuring notable pacers like Andre Russell and the recent addition of Mitchell Starc, acquired for a record price of INR 24.75 crore in a fierce bidding war.
It’s worth noting that Chameera is currently nursing an injury sustained during Sri Lanka’s first ODI against Afghanistan, where he limped off during his eighth over. His participation in the IPL will depend on the assessment from a specialist regarding the nature of his injury.
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While the IPL gears up for an exciting season, the withdrawals of English pacers raise concerns about the workload management of international players leading up to crucial tournaments like the T20 World Cup. The Kolkata Knight Riders, with the addition of Dushmantha Chameera, will look to strike a balance between experience and emerging talent as they eye success in the upcoming season.
