Shreyas Iyer out with chickenpox

Delhi Daredevils batsman Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out for at least a week with a bout of chickenpox. Iyer, who is recuperating at home in Mumbai, will miss Daredevils' season-opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 8, and is also likely to sit out their second match, against Rising Pune Supergiant on April 11.

Iyer's illness adds to a growing list of unavailable Daredevils players. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been ruled out for the entire season with a finger injury, middle-order batsman JP Duminy has pulled out due to personal reasons, and the allrounder Angelo Mathews is also expected to miss a large chunk of the season while recovering from hamstring and calf injuries.

Iyer, who recently earned a call-up to India's Test squad as cover for the injured Virat Kohli, has played two IPL seasons for Daredevils. He was their top run-getter in 2015, with 439 at an average of 33.76 and a strike rate of 128.36, and endured a difficult 2016, with only 30 runs from six innings, including three ducks.