IPL 2023 : “Absence of Pant, Iyer and Bumrah really taking the glam away from the tournament” – says Sourav Ganguly

Former India Captain as well as BCCI president and current Director of Cricket for IPL outfit Delhi Capitals Sourav Ganguly thinks that the tournament this year lacks glamour because of a few absentees. He thinks that having Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah injured is not a good news for the teams and the IPL as well.

Ganguly has previously worked with Iyer and Pant during his previous stint with Delhi Capitals and he knows both of the individuals very well. But due to their respective injuries both are set to miss out. While Iyer was bought by KKR last season, Pant captained DC for the past few years.

#IPL2023 #DCvGT

“Sarfaraz has kept wickets for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare this season. At this level, obviously, pressure is different. But he has kept in one match. You can’t pass judgment on him so quickly," says Sourav Ganguly. https://t.co/aFi61LxEsP

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) April 4, 2023

He sat with a news outlet yesterday ahead of Delhi’s first home match of the season later this evening against Gujarat Titans. It will be a tough game for the home side as the reigning champions won their previous fixture comprehensively.

List of Injured/doubtful players in IPL 2023:

RCB – Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar & Josh Hazlewood
MI – Bumrah & Jhye Richardson
CSK – Jamieson & Mukesh Chaudhary
KKR – Shreyas Iyer
DC – Rishabh Pant
PBKS – Jonny Bairstow
RR – Prasidh Krishna
LSG – Mohsin Khan#IPL2023#TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/xCV4NW159n

— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) March 31, 2023

But Ganguly thinks that when the going gets tough, the tough gets tougher. He said that it is a great opportunity for other youngsters to display what they have and succeed big name just like big players did. “I see this as an opportunity for someone to become better. Rishabh became better because MS finished playing. That’s the way players are produced.” – said Ganguly.

The 50-year-old also spoke about the void that Pant has left in the middle-order. As we saw in their previous match, DC tried out Sarfaraz Khan in that position but he was unable to get going. When Ganguly was asked if Sarfaraz will be backed through out the season and he did not give a clear answer but also defended the Mumbai batter after his no show at Lucknow.

Sarfaraz has kept wickets for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare this season. At this level, obviously, pressure is different. But he has kept in one match. You can’t pass the judgement on him so quickly.”