Massive setback for Lucknow as Mark Wood ruled out of Indian T20 League due to elbow injury

England pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the 15th season of the Indian T20 League, starting March 26. Wood was signed by Lucknow during the mega auction last month. Wood was sold for INR 7.5 crores. Last week, he sustained an elbow injury during the first Test against West Indies. The 32-year-old could bowl only 17 overs in the first innings of the game.

He didn’t bowl in the second innings. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sent a communication regarding the development to the Lucknow franchise. The franchise is yet to announce a replacement but it could be presumed that the replacement will be signed soon.

A little more than seven days are left in the start of the tournament and the team has limited pace bowling options. Pacers such as Jason Holder, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmanta Chameera, and Mohsin Khan are at their disposal. However, they lack a genuine match winner in the bowling department.

  On the other hand, Holder also won’t be available for the first few games as the Test series between England and the West Indies will end on March 28. 

Wood will be the second England pacer to miss out on the cash-rich league this year, Jofra Archer, who was signed by Mumbai despite his unavailability, will also not participate for the five-time winners this year. Apart from them, Alex Hales and Jason Roy also pulled out of the T20 extravaganza citing bio-bubble issues.