CSK’s Latest Kiwi Recruit Ruled Out Of Next Four New Zealand Matches Due To Injury

New Zealand cricket on Thursday (February 8) Daryl Mitchell, who was bought by CSK during the IPL 2024 auction for Rs 14 Crores, will miss out on the national team’s upcoming fixtures due to a foot injury.

Mitchell has been dealing with an ongoing foot complaint and the team management decided that the right-handed batter would miss out on the second Test which will give the injury time to heal.

The 32-year-old had registered scores of 34 and 11* during New Zealand’s thumping 281-run victory in the first Test against the Proteas in Mount Maunganui.

He was earlier rested for the final T20I match against Pakistan in January with the hope that the injury would heal in time but the issue seems to have not solved and now he is focused on his rehabilitation.

Apart from the 2nd Test against South Africa, Mitchell will also miss out on the three-match T20I series against Australia which will be played later this month in order to regain fitness for the two-match Test series.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead said it was important to allow Mitchell some time to rest so he can return to international cricket as soon as possible.

“Daryl is a hugely important member of the squad in all three formats and ensuring he is in the best shape is vital with the period of matches to come. Based on the schedule ahead, we feel now is an appropriate time for Daryl to complete a period of rehabilitation,” Stead said as quoted from ICC.

New Zealand have not named a replacement for Mitchell as Stead feels that Will Young could come in as a straight swap. He also indicated that the side could be shuffled with Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner moving up the order and leaving room for an additional pacer.

“[Will Young] is definitely one of the options,” Stead said. “Will’s there as back up [and] Glenn Phillips has shown he’s more than useful and it could be shaped differently.