Left-hander replaces injured Faf du Plessis at Supergiants
Monday 2 May 2016 13:09, UK
Rising Pune Supergiants have signed Australia batsman Usman Khawaja after Faf du Plessis was ruled out of the rest of the IPL campaign with a broken finger.
Khawaja scored two hundreds and two fifties in his four innings as Sydney Thunder won this winter's Big Bash League, while he also topped Australia's run-scoring charts at the World T20 in India.
"We are glad to have roped in Usman Khawaja in the team," said Pune coach Stephen Fleming. "His presence will definitely be an advantage to the team and could be pivotal in bolstering the position of the side.
"His imperious form for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League victory last season and being the leading run-scorer for Australia for the recently-concluded World T20 has made us sit up and notice."
Du Plessis, who notched two half-centuries in six innings for Pune, is set to be out for over a month, meaning he faces a race to be fit for the start South Africa's one-day international Tri-Series with West Indies and Australia in the Caribbean in June.
The 31-year wrote on Twitter: "And so my ipl tournament unfortunately comes to an end. Broken finger and out for 6 weeks. Thanks India and @RPSupergiants. It's been fun,"
Du Plessis' absence is another blow for Pune after ex-England batsman Kevin Pietersen's participation in the tournament was ended by a calf tear.
See how Pune, who have won two and lost four of their six IPL games, fare against table toppers Gujarat Lions, live on Friday at 3pm on Sky Sports 2.
