Ashwin to give IPL a miss, Vijay doubtful

R Ashwin will miss the entire season of the upcoming IPL for Rising Pune Supergiant because of a sports hernia. Ashwin reported groin pain and has been advised six to eight weeks of rehabilitation, but is expected to regain full fitness ahead of India's title defence at the Champions Trophy in June.

M Vijay too is in danger of missing the entire tournament for Kings XI Punjab because of wrist and shoulder injuries that he played with for a better part of India's long home season. Vijay will require surgery to his right wrist and also undergo rehabilitation for his left shoulder and "may not be able to participate in IPL 2017," a BCCI release said on Saturday*.

Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav, the BCCI further stated, will need two weeks to recuperate from their respective injuries. Jadeja has "issues" with his spinning finger while Umesh reported soreness in his right hip and lower back. Both will miss the first two matches for their respective franchises. Gujarat Lions' first two matches are on April 7 and 9 before their third on April 14 against Supergiant in Rajkot. Kolkata Knight Riders, the team Umesh represents, also play their first two matches on April 7 and 9 with the third against Kings XI at home on April 13.

Ashwin, 30, has had an unprecedented workload during India's marathon home season that featured 13 Test matches against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. During the period, Ashwin bowled 738.2 overs - the most ever by a bowler in a Test season - and picked up a record 82 wickets. Along with Jadeja, Ashwin claimed 153 wickets at an average of 24.14 to become the most successful bowling pair in a season.

Ashwin first picked up the injury immediately after the Test series against England in December. In the aftermath, he withdrew from Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Karnataka.