IPL 2019 | Chennai Super Kings suffer another blow as David Willey pulls out of IPL for family reasons

Willey was a late replacement for Mark Wood last year and eventually became a part of the side that went on to lift the tournament. His good performance encouraged the franchise to keep him in the side while deciding to part ways with Wood completely. But the late birth of his second child means he hasn’t joined the squad and with the understanding of Chennai's head coach Stephen Fleming, both the parties decided that it would be too late for him to join the franchise at any stage of the tournament .

"Unfortunately, due to family reasons I've had to pull out of the IPL. Chennai were very understanding and supportive as Yorkshire have been as well. It's never an easy decision. Nonetheless it's the right decision for the family. We are due to have our second baby and my wife has had a bit of a tough time so I need to be in England,” Willey was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

"I need to put the family first at the minute. If we can get that sorted then I can concentrate on the cricket. I'm here in Yorkshire and it's a bit open-ended when I'll be available for selection, but hopefully I'll definitely be ready for the 50-over competition."

This has come as a blow for the defending champions who had already lost Lungi Ngidi to injury and doesn’t have any real foreign fast-bowling option with them for the coming matches.