Injured Ashwin out for two matches

Offspinner R Ashwin will miss Chennai Super Kings' next two matches due to a finger injury.

Ashwin left the field during Super Kings' home game against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 12th over of the chase, having hurt his bowling hand. Fielding at cover, he attempted a catch to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav, but the ball was hit too hard, causing his middle finger to bleed. He subsequently spent the rest of the match in the dugout.

"Ashwin has a split in his middle finger. We do not know how many stitches he will require," Super Kings' team manager Russell Radhakrishnan said. "He has been taken to the hospital. The team has decided not to take Ashwin for the next two matches." It means Super Kings will be without Ashwin for the clashes against Knight Riders on April 30 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 2.

Before his injury, Ashwin had been key to Super Kings' defence of 134, accounting for Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey in successive overs. He had two more left when he was sidelined, but Super Kings managed to do without him to seal a two-run victory.