The ongoing Indian Premier League 2023 is approaching its halfway mark with all ten teams still competing for a spot in the Playoffs. Meanwhile, amid the speculations about the participation of English players in the later stage of the tournament, pacer Mark Wood is set to fly back home as he is expecting a daughter in mid-may.
Wood has been a revelation for Lucknow Super Giants this season, taking 11 wickets in his four appearances, including 5 for 14 on his debut against Delhi Capitals. However, he has missed the team’s last two games owing to illness. Wood will fly home at some time in the upcoming weeks to be there for the arrival of his second kid, who is due at the end of May. However, it seems improbable at this point that he would later travel back to India.
Even though England face Ireland in a one-off Test at Lord’s on June 1, four days after the IPL final, a recent news report suggests that the ECB does not intend to forcibly pull out players from the competition because they previously assured the Indian Cricket Board and franchises that they would be available for the entire season.
Lucknow Super Giants set to face Punjab Kings
After facing a humiliating defeat against Gujarat Titans LSG will now face Punjab Kings at the PCA stadium in Mohali. Notably, the team will be playing after a gap of six days and will hope to change their fate. Meanwhile, skipper KL Rahul will also expect to score big runs with a good strike rate. Notably, in the last game, Rahul’s slow innings cost LSG in the end.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings will be confident after beating Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. PBKS beat MI by 13 runs as five-time champions failed to chase 16 runs in the last over. The team will look to continue their dominance as it will help them to move ahead in the tournament.
Here is how fans react to Mark Wood’s decision to pull out of IPL:
Naveen ul haq acha kar rha
— Abhinav singh (@Abhinav_tmk) April 25, 2023
Koi baat nahi, Me itna halka khelunga ki dusri team ki batting hi nahi aayegi. pic.twitter.com/iCkjHnkleD
— Abhay (@abhaysrivastavv) April 25, 2023
But according to Rohit fans mark wood bhagoda hai or vo isliye bhag gya kyu ki lsg bht kharab tareeke se har rahi hai. Jese vo kohli ke liye bolte h jb vo aus tour se vps aa gya tha for the same reason.
— ????????!??_?? (@bholination) April 25, 2023
How did he know ki doughter he hogi ???
— Ashish. (@____ashish_m) April 25, 2023
Even LSG will miss final stages ! So no worries
— Elandhaari Yellove (@RantsofPC) April 25, 2023
Lsg is finished outside there home ground which is helpfull for Spinners
— Aarav Mavi (@AaravMavi14) April 25, 2023
How is this possible
He is IPL here and his wife is pregnant ?
— Balu (@TheNameIsBalu) April 25, 2023
He already missed 4 matches . So no worries about it. It's better to take Qdk and Mohsin Khan into the squad
— Venky (CHINNA) (@Call_me_CHINNA1) April 25, 2023
Daughter's Birth?
Ye kese bol sakte ho??— JP speaks (@JP_SPEAKS_TRUTH) April 25, 2023
He already missed majority of the first half as well
Just go england and lsg should replace him
— Rohit (@imr0hit_) April 25, 2023
— the imposter ? (@imsank3thes) April 25, 2023
India ko abhi bohut agge jana hain, just see the comments? How do they know ki daughter hai ?
— ishan (@ishantropy) April 25, 2023
LSG to miss the final stages of IPL 2023 due Mark Wood's absence. (Reported by Mufa). ?
— Veer ? (@CricCrazyVeer) April 25, 2023
To abhi kaunsa khel rha hai
— Deepak Rajpurohit²? ?? (@DeepakSinghGRaj) April 25, 2023
Pregnant ye h ki wo? Daughter ko final ke baad dekh hi sakta h.
— Malakpet Markram? (@Sandesh_B_J) April 25, 2023