IPL News: Pat Cummins to miss phase 2 in UAE? Dinesh Karthik gives update

With the confirmed news of the conduction of the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 during September-October in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the concern regarding overseas players’ availability is still lurking on the officials and franchises minds. The IPL 2021 abruptly ended on May 4 after players and staff members inside the franchises bio-bubble tested positive for Covid 19.

As a plethora of overseas players makes themselves unavailable prioritizing their national cricketing commitments over the second leg of the IPL 2021, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player Dinesh Karthik confirmed their Australian speedster- Pat Cummins’s unavailability for the remainder of the tournament.

Cummins currently unavailable but things might potentially change in the three months, asserted Karthik

In a recent interaction with the Times of India (TOI), former KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik gave a clear statement that Pat Cummins won’t participate in the remaining IPL 2021. Karthik expressed the possibility of KKR skipper- Eon Morgan’s availability but in case things don’t turn the likely way, he is ready to take up the captaincy charge.

“Cummins has said he is not coming but there’s still three months and Morgan may still be available. But if I am asked to lead, I don’t have a problem,” Karthik told TOI.

Also read: IPL 2021: Aaron Finch tells how Australian Players could play in IPL phase 2

KKR performance in Phase 1 of IPL 2021

While Australia’s lanky pacer Pat Cummins had an impressive show on an individual level, KKR were the underperformers in phase 1 of the IPL season. In the seven matches they played this season, the purple brigade could only win two of them. With just four points, they sat at the seventh spot on the points table.

On an individual front, Cummins was in fine touch this season. In the seven matches he featured in for KKR, he scalped nine wickets. Besides, in the cut-throat clash against CSK where KKR lost, Cummins had put a phenomenal show with the bat as well. Alone he quick fired 66 runs in just 34 balls which included six sixes and four fours.

Also read: IPL 2021 Start Date: When are teams moving to UAE for Phase 2?