Uncertainties loom around Jonny Bairstow’s participation in Indian T20 League 2023

England batter Jonny Bairstow’s participation in the upcoming Men’s Indian T20 League 2023 is uncertain as he is yet to recover. For the unversed, he got injured while playing Golf in September last year. Bairstow slipped while playing the game and broke his left leg and dislocated his ankle. After this, a plate was inserted when he underwent surgery in London, and also sustained ligament damage.

He missed out on the 20-20 World Cup 2022 winning campaign with the team. The right-hander was replaced by Alex Hales, who made his comeback after 2018-19 in the national side. Also, Bairstow has been missing out on a lot of cricket since then. The ODI series against Australia, the Test tour of Pakistan and New Zealand, the ODI tour of Bangladesh, and the ILT20 opportunity with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Meanwhile, in a recent video he uploaded, he has been seen doing a running session.

Before this, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had planned his comeback during the Men’s Indian T20 League 2023. The medical staff of the Mohali-based side is constantly in touch with the 2019 World Cup winner. They are optimistic of his return to the game and his participation in the 16th season.

Jonny Bairstow was retained by Punjab ahead of Player Auction 2023

While the wicketkeeper batter got injured in September last year, he was retained by the 2014 finalists in November last year. They bought him at the 2022 mega auction for INR 6.75 crore. Last year, he scored 253 runs in 11 innings, averaging 23 with a strike rate of 144.57, with two half-centuries.

Punjab squad: