Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday confirmed that England batter Jonny Bairstow was ruled out of the IPL 2023 season as he has failed to recover from a freak leg injury he sustained in September 2022. Meanwhile, the IPL organizers also confirmed fast bowler Prasidh Krishna will be unavailable for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming season, starting March 31.

Bairstow will be replaced by Australia’s Matthew Short, who is set for his first stint in the IPL. Short, an opening batter has adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the recent edition of the Big Bash League for scoring 458 runs and taking 11 wickets with his off-spin. Short has been signed for his base price of INR 20 lakh.

ALSO READ: Simon Doull Argues With Aamir Sohail Over Strike-rate of Babar Azam In T20s

Bairstow’s injury will be a big blow to Punjab Kings, who are looking to end their lean run in the IPL. PBKS let go of Mayank Agarwal and appointed Shikhar Dhawan as their skipper for the new season. In Bairstow’s absence, Sri Lanka’s Bhanuka Rajapaksa might get a prominent role after having impressed in the last season.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals named former Punjab Kings and SunRisers Hyderabad pacer Sandeep Sharma as a replacement for India pacer Prasidh Krishna, who has not played competitive cricket for more than 6 months.

Sandeep Sharma, a veteran in the IPL, has picked up 114 scalps in 104 matches had been a strike bowler for SRH in the past. However, the 29-year-old, who has played a couple of T20Is for India, went unsold in the IPL 2023 mini-auction in December. Sandeep’s addition will add to the Rajasthan Royals’ firepower in the powerplay with Trent Boult leading the pace-bowling unit of the former champions.

ALSO READ: Shikhar Dhawan Reveals He Would’ve Preferred Shubman Gill Over Him As Selector

Prasidh Krishna, who is suffering a stress fracture in his back, has been out of action since the tour of Zimbabwe in August 2022. Prasidh picked up 19 wickets for Rajasthan in their run to the final in IPL 2022 and the Sanju Samson-led franchise will miss the Karnakataka bowler’s pace in IPL 2023, starting March 31.