IPL 2019 | Bereaved Kane Williamson to miss Chennai Super Kings clash after grandmother’s death

04/23/2019

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in the match against Chennai Super Kings after Kane Williamson returned to New Zealand following his grandmother’s death. Williamson is likely to rejoin the squad ahead of Sunrisers' next match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on April 27.

Williamson was out of the action for the most parts of the first half of the tournament and returned to action against Chennai Super Kings following their three-match losing streak. Sunrisers went on to win their next game too, against Kolkata Knight Riders at home, which helped them rise to the fourth place on the points table, with five wins in nine games.

As Williamson has returned to New Zealand, with immediate effect, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will take over the captaincy again. Kumar had led the side in five games earlier this season when Williamson had been unavailable due to a shoulder injury.

In Williamson's absence, Mohammad Nabi or Shakib Al Hasan may take over the foreign players' quota in the team and that might bolster the spin attack on Chennai’s sluggish surface. The game will also be the last one this season for Jonny Bairstow as the Englishman will return to his country to attend England’s camp for the World Cup.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings at the latter’s home ground tonight.