Vettori to miss Kolkata game

Daniel Vettori, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, has flown back to New Zealand to see a doctor about his ongoing knee problem. As a result, he will not be playing in Saturday's game against Kolkata Knight Riders and could be in danger of missing future games as well. Vettori also sat out Bangalore's last game against Rajasthan Royals on May 11. Virat Kohli, who led the side in that game, will take over as captain in Vettori's absence.

"He's [Vettori] gone back home to see his surgeon, someone he generally consults," Kohli told reporters on Thursday. "He will try to get back and be fit for the upcoming games. We will just have to wait and watch what happens with that."

Vettori first hurt his right knee during New Zealand's World Cup league game against Pakistan back in March. He missed the rest of his side's league games, before returning to play in the quarter- and semi-final matches. According to the Times of India, Vettori had said during the IPL that he was just about able to get through his four overs and hobble around in the field.

"Obviously, it's a loss for us and it's unfortunate," Kohli said. "It's been happening to us for the last two years as well. We have lost important players at important times due to injuries, it's never a good thing for the team. But we have got reserves in the side who are willing to do well and who are willing to go out there, who are really talented and thinking cricketers. We just need to set a strong combination now and go with that combination throughout the tournament and we will see if Dan comes back, nothing like it [if he does].

"If he doesn't, then we need to form a different combination and be confident going into the game with that combination."