IPL 2023: Pat Cummins decides to opt out

The captain of Australia was with Kolkata Knight Riders for the last three IPL tournaments, but he had to stop playing in 2022 because of a hip injury.

Due to a packed international schedule, Australia captain Pat Cummins decided not to participate in the upcoming 2023 edition of the India Premier League (IPL). After England’s Sam Billings announced his decision to withdraw from the league’s 16th season on Monday, citing his call to focus on the game’s longer format, he became the second international star to do so.

The Test and ODI captain was with Kolkata Knight Riders for the last three IPL tournaments.

However, due to a hip injury, he had to pull out of his 2022 campaign, in which he only played five games and took seven wickets and scored 53 runs.

He tweeted:

I’ve made the difficult decision to miss next years IPL. The international schedule is packed with Tests and ODI’s for the next 12 months, so will take some rest ahead of an Ashes series and World Cup. pic.twitter.com/Iu0dF73zOW

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) November 14, 2022

At the most recent T20 World Cup held on Australian soil, Cummins had a disappointing campaign, taking just three wickets from four matches at an average of 44.00. Australia, the defending champions, were eliminated before the semi-finals.

India will host the 50-over World Cup between October and December 2023, following Australia’s Ashes tour of England in June of that year. KKR has been the team that has been the most active in advance of the retention window closing. 

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Before bringing in India pacer Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals, they traded Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans, the 2022 season champions. They also gave Mumbai Indians Aman Khan in exchange.

November 15 is the final day for the announcement of the retention list for IPL 2023 season.