Reports | Injured Steve Smith may miss IPL 2019; Rajasthan Royals looking for replacement

The Australian skipper had to give the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League a miss after playing only a couple of games because of an elbow injury. Now, he will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair a ligament in his right elbow and as per a report published on Mumbai Mirror, 29-year-old Smith is expected to take around six weeks for extensive rehabilitation and the removal of the brace. 

The tabloid also reported that the Jaipur-based franchise are looking for a replacement for the injured Aussie batsman who had also missed the previous edition as he was handed a one-year ban after the controversial sandpaper gate incident during the Cape Town Test last year.  

Smith’s 12-month ban will end on March 28, however, as per a spokesperson of Cricket Australia, Smith’s return to the field will be made clearer only after the removal of the brace. There are talks that his chances to get picked for the World Cup and the Ashes will also be affected by the elbow injury.