Royal Challengers' Will Jacks ruled out of IPL 2023 due to injury
ESPNcricinfo understands RCB have been in discussions with Michael Bracewell as his potential replacement
Matt Roller
15-Mar-2023
Will Jacks was signed by RCB for INR 3.2 crore (£320,000) at the auction • Getty Images
Will Jacks has been ruled out of the 2023 IPL due to injury, ESPNcricinfo understands.
Jacks was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 3.2 crore (£320,000) at December's auction, and would have provided cover for Glenn Maxwell in their middle order.
But he sustained a muscle injury while fielding in England's recent victory in their second ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur, and after scans earlier this week and consultation with a specialist, he has been forced to pull out of the IPL.
Gutted. I'll be back. https://t.co/4sXnD0e4Oy
— Will Jacks (@Wjacks9) March 15, 2023
The injury is a significant blow for Jacks, who had hoped to use the tournament as an opportunity to familiarise with Indian conditions and push his case for selection in England's squad for the 50-over World Cup later this year.
Jacks made his England debuts in all three international formats this winter, winning his T20I and Test caps in Pakistan before making his ODI debut in Bangladesh.
ESPNcricinfo understands that Royal Challengers Bangalore have been in discussions with Michael Bracewell, the New Zealand allrounder, as a potential replacement for Jacks.
Bracewell has never previously played in the IPL and was unsold at December's auction, having entered with a base price of INR 1 crore.
Royal Challengers play their first game of the season against Mumbai Indians on April 2. It will be their first fixture at their home ground, Bangalore's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, since May 2019.
Reece Topley, Jacks' Surrey and England team-mate, was also signed by RCB in the auction, and is expected to be fit in time for the start of the season, having spent the white-ball tour to Bangladesh on the bench with a minor niggle.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98