IPL 2016: George Bailey in for Faf at Rising Pune Supergiants

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

05/02/2016

278

Australian middle-order batsman George Bailey has been called up by Rising Pune Supergiants as the replacement for South African Faf du Plessis, who was ruled out of the IPL season with an injury. The Pune side had earlier roped in Aussie opener Usman Khawaja as Kevin Pietersen's replacement.

Rising Pune Supergiants will be Bailey’s third IPL franchise after representing Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in the previous editions. Bailey also captained the Punjab side in the 2014 and 2015 IPL seasons, and had led them to a runners-up position back in 2014. The signing of Bailey will come a big boost for the M S Dhoni-led side who lost Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis, Mitchell Marsh, and Steve Smith to injuries.

"We lost four crucial players, but we are looking ahead. Bailey has tremendous experience and had a very successful season before last. He can contribute to the leadership group," Raghu Iyer, chief executive at Supergiants, said, reported ESPNcricinfo.

"Smith's been a bummer. He was just coming into his own and this happened. It is a challenging time. Before we could settle down we lost the core group of players around whom you build a team around," Iyer added.

Which player will Rising Pune Supergiants miss the most? #IPL2016 #RPS

READ: https://t.co/ZXg2eYL1nH
— sportscafe.in (@IndiaSportscafe) May 2, 2016

Iyer also confirmed that the franchise will announce a replacement for Mitchell Marsh within the next two days. The MS Dhoni-led side had earlier signed Usman Khawaja as Kevin Pietersen’s replacement.

Rising Pune Supergiants will next face Delhi Daredevils on May 5 at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi.