Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated the Mumbai Indians in their first match of IPL 2023, but it came at a cost.
The left arm seamer Reece Topley dislocated his shoulder whilst fielding a ball on the boundary.
Immediately physios came on to the field to assess Topley, but he was taken off the pitch and did not return for the remainder of the innings.
With the awkward landing it was clear that Topley was in visible pain clasping the shoulder.
The seamer has been spotted at RCB training with his arm in a sling with no sign of when Topley will return to the side.
He joins a growing injury table, where there is already Josh Hazlewood, Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar on there.
Topley has been confirmed to miss Thursday’s trip to Eden Gardens to face the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The Knight Riders will be looking to rectify, their first game of the season where they were defeated by the Punjab Kings by 7 runs (DLS Method)
Topley injury overshadows good start to the tournament for RCB
RCB however began the tournament with a dominant display over the Mumbai Indians.
The opening pair of former captain Virat Kohli and current captain Faf du Plessis, put on 148 runs in the opening stand.
Kohli hit 82 from 49 deliveries whilst du Plessis scored 73 from 43 deliveries.
Australian Glenn Maxwell then completed the impressive chase with a brutal cameo of 12 from just 3 deliveries.
Topley impressed with the ball on debut, picking up the crucial wicket of fellow debutant and second most expensive player in IPL history Cameron Green.
If it wasn’t for the fine innings of Tilak Varma for Mumbai it could have been an even more routine chase as he went on to score 84 from 46 deliveries.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will be hoping that they can get the English bowler back quickly with there still being doubts at what point and what part that Hazlewood will be able to play.
David Willey is potentially in line to replace Topley as he is someone who will play a similar role to Topley who will get the ball to swing and cause havoc for the KKR batsmen.
Comments from the RCB coach Mike Hesson
“Unfortunately, his knee dug into the ground, and he landed on his shoulder and dislocated it. It was lucky enough (for us) that the doctors were able to pop it back in,”
“He is off to have a scan at the moment. We hope that the initial reports come back nicely and Reece can join us. (But) if not then we will have to see what happens, but hopefully he is alright.”
