IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans’ star batter Kane Williamson departed for his native New Zealand in the early hours of Monday after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in Gujarat’s season-opening match against the Chennai Super Kings on Friday. The 32-year-old expressed his goodbyes in a video message posted to the Gujarat Titans social media platforms. “Sad to be leaving so soon. I’ll miss the camp for sure. See you soon,” he said. Williamson will be examined by the medical professionals and a treatment strategy will be put together by the New Zealand Cricket Board to get him back in action. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
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Williamson, playing in his first game for the Titans, landed awkwardly while trying to pull off a catch at the deep square leg boundary during the 13th over of the Super Kings’ inning. His right knee buckled under his weight. He had jumped to stop a ball that was being hit by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s bat for a six.
Awful injury yesterday. Suspicious of potential ACL rupture. Thoughts with Kane Williamson. Get well soon! #IPL23 pic.twitter.com/OHfahWNREN
— Prithish S Narayan (@PrithishNarayan) April 1, 2023
Williamson was on the ground clutching his right knee at that moment, after he managed to save two runs by palming the ball into the field of play before it bounced onto the boundary boards. Despite getting treatment for some time, he was unable to return to the field. As a result, the Titans first brought in B Sai Sudharsan as a replacement fielder before switching the two out of the starting lineup in accordance with the new Impact Player rule.
Williamson’s absence from the field following the IPL is still unknown, but New Zealand coach Gary Stead termed the injury “a big blow” for both Williamson and the team. After the Tests and ODIs, New Zealand is presently playing T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka at home before departing for Pakistan for five T20 Internationals and the same number of ODIs.
Williamson was missing both of those tours for his participation in the IPL. Williamson had suffered from a persistent elbow injury for the previous two years, and he had just recently completely recovered from it.
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