IPL 2017: KKR bolstered by the potential return of Chris Lynn against KXIP

05/02/2017

Chris Lynn’s roaring start to IPL 2017 was cut short by a serious shoulder injury he suffered in the game against the Mumbai Indians on April 9th. However, the Australian has now recovered sufficiently from his injury and is eyeing a comeback in the game against the Kings XI Punjab next week.

Chris Lynn, unfortunately, injured his shoulder after landing heavily on it while attempting to take a catch to dismiss Mumbai Indians’ opener Jos Butter. Lynn has been sidelined with the injury ever since. However, now that he’s nearly completed his recovery from the injury, Lynn is once again, raring to go as IPL 2017 reaches its business end. The Australian is expected to hit the nets with KKR for the first time today (May 2nd) and is targeting the upcoming game against Kings XI Punjab on May 9th for his comeback.

Lynn provided Cricket Australia an update on his injury from Kolkata, saying, "The shoulder is slowly getting there. I had a cortisone injection the other day and it worked really well.”

However, Lynn's initial fears were calmed when the scans revealed that there wasn’t too much damage done to his shoulder and this also prompted him to stay back and receive treatment in Kolkata, rather than fly home.

More importantly, since Lynn has suffered the same injury before he also had an idea of the timeframe of his absence. "Because I've had it a few times now, I sort of knew what timeframe I was looking at to get back if there wasn't too much damage after a scan."

Lynn’s decision to stay back is vindicated given that extensive work with the KKR medical team along with the strength and conditioning coach of Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat, Paul Chapman, has meant that the Australian could return as early as next week.

But he has more than one reason to look forward to his return; he has been named in Australia’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy in England and wants to get some much-needed match practice before he joins his national side for the tournament.

"It only makes sense I'm here trying to get fit to play some cricket before heading over to England. There would be nothing worse than going in under prepared to a world tournament. I'm going to have my first bat and I'm feeling really confident about it. The shoulder has come up really well. It's positive signs but I've still got a long way to go. I'd like to ideally play a game or two before the finals. It would be a bit unfair on the teammates to rock up into a final not having played a game (since the injury)."

Prior to his untimely injury, Lynn had made a cracking start to IPL 2017 as he forged a formidable partnership with Gautam Gambhir at the top of the KKR batting order. Lynn also scored a swashbuckling unbeaten century against the Gujarat Lions as KKR crushed their opponents by 10 wickets, earlier in the season.

The 27-year old Queenslander, has a history of shoulder injuries and admitted that he needs to be ‘extra careful’ going forward, if he wants to have a long and successful international career. More importantly, his history of injuries may call for a re-thinking of his fielding positions.

"I think I might just have to be one of those fielders you hide in the field. But as soon as I start costing the team runs in the field, that's when I've got to have a hard look at it. I think I can still contribute a fair amount with the bat and still be good enough in the ring in the field."

Finally, Lynn will almost certainly be reinstated into the KKR playing XI upon his return and that might see the end of the makeshift, though successful, opening combination of Sunil Narine and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the KKR batting order.

Gambhir and Narine have forged a fruitful partnership with Narine playing the role of a pinch hitter and Lynn admitted that KKR’s recent form that sees them in the second spot on the table has made him even more eager to return to action. "I was going really when I was playing, but it helps the boys are winning, that's got me through. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and hope to get back out there sooner rather than later."

Chris Lynn holds the record for scoring the fastest 50 in IPL 2017 of just 19-balls.

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IPL 2017: KKR bolstered by the potential return of Chris Lynn against KXIP

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