Big setback for KL Rahul; Leading wicket-taker for LSG is set to miss Final stages of IPL

Lucknow Super Giants have had a brilliant performance in the ongoing 16th edition of the Indian Premier League. They are currently ranked third on the points table with four wins out of seven games and a NRR of +0.547.

But it seems that the second half of the tournament can be more difficult for KL Rahul and his men because one of their key bowlers is all set to miss the business end of the IPL 2023. The English pacer Mark Wood will fly back to England for parential duty as he will fly back to attend the birth of his second child next month end.

Wood is in a promient form for Lucknow. He has played four games and taken 11 wickets with a best of 5/14. Notably, Wood was not part of the IPL 2022 due to injury and LSG retained him at a price of INR 7.5 crore in 2023.

A report from ESPN Cricinfo said, "Wood and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May, and Wood will fly home at some point in the coming weeks in order to be present at the birth."

Earlier, the schedule for the IPL playoffs was announced, with the qualifiers to be played between May 23 and 26, while the final is scheduled to play on May 28, Sunday. Notably, England will also play a one-off test against Ireland ahead of the Ashes, which will start on June 1 at Lord's.

However, LSG has the option of Afgan speedster Naveen-ul-Haq, who has done a decent job in the two games he has played. Lucknow will now play the next game on Friday, April 28 against Punjab Kings at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. But LSG lost their last game against Gujarat Titans in a low-scoring match. Chasing the target of 136 runs, LSG only managed 128 runs.