Kane Williamson’s replacement on the Gujarat Titans’ team for the current 16th season of the Indian Premier League is Sri Lankan all-arounder Dasun Shanaka.
Interestingly, Williamson, who suffered a major knee injury while fielding during the Titans’ season-opening match against Chennai Super Kings, has since returned to his native New Zealand.
The defending champions paid the Sri Lankan T20I captain his base salary of INR 50 lakh, and he will play in his first-ever IPL. In the most recent T20I series in India, Shanaka was unstoppable, scoring 124 runs in three innings at an S/R of 187 and averaging 62.00.
Shanaka recently played on Indian soil, leading Sri Lanka against the Men in Blue during the T20I series that ended in January 2023. Shanaka finished with a total of 124 runs to his name with a strike rate of 187.87, demonstrating that he was in excellent form.
Initially, there were rumours that GT might choose Smith as a like-for-like substitute for Williamson. However, the top-order batsman was not included in the IPL auction, which eliminated his chances of qualifying.
How was Kane Williamson injured?
Williamson had fallen while attempting to take a catch at the deep square leg boundary during Chennai Super Kings’ innings in his first game for Gujarat Titans. Williamson had seized the ball to thwart Ruturaj Gaikwad’s six before throwing it in.
Williamson was observed gripping his knee in anguish as the ball fell to the ground and slide toward the boundary rope for a four. He was replaced by B Sai Sudharsan in accordance with the Impact Player rule and immediately carried off the pitch.
He was disqualified from the entire IPL 2023 competition a day later as a result of the scan data, and he quickly returned home for more testing.
Kane Williamson returned back
Williamson travelled back to his native New Zealand and was spotted getting around on crutches as he prepares to get treatment for the injury.
After playing the Delhi Capitals on April 4, Gujarat Titans will return home to welcome the Kolkata Knight Riders in their ensuing match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 9.
On April 13, they will play their fourth league stage game against the Punjab Kings in Mohali, Chandigarh. Shanaka may as well be a part of Gujarat’s starting lineup when they play PBKS.
