Kane Williamson was in some pain as he landed awkwardly while trying to stop a six from Ruturaj Gaikwad in the opening match of the season between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad
Kane Williamson of New Zealand sustained a serious injury in his first IPL match for Gujarat Titans. Williamson injured his leg while attempting to stop a six in the IPL 2023 opener against Chennai Super Kings on Friday, March 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Kane Williamson fell awkwardly on his right leg in the 13th over of the match after performing an acrobatic leap in the air to prevent a well-hit delivery from flying into the mid-wicket stands after Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to bowl.
While Mohammed Shami took the early wicket of Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad turned on a spectacular performance, scoring his fifty in just 23 balls. The Chennai Super Kings opener was in commanding form, hitting nine sixes and four boundaries in his 50-ball 92.
Ruturaj was smacking big sixes at will, and if a ball was bowled short, the CSK opener was able to land it in the mid-wicket stands. Ruturaj attempted a flat six into the mid-wicket area after Joshua Little, the first Irish player to participate in the IPL, dug one short. Kane Williamson, who was standing on the deep mid-wicket line, leapt high into the air and grabbed the ball. Willamson was unable to make a clean grab, but he attempted to push the ball into play.
Williamson, on the other hand, experienced pain in his right knee as a result of the awkward landing along the boundary line. Williamson saved two runs for the Gujarat Titans but was in agony.
The New Zealander collapsed to the ground, gripping his injured knee, before the physios arrived. Williamson required assistance from the medical team to get back on his feet as he was helped off the field.
Williamson did not play in the second session of the IPL 2023 opener.
It was a setback for Williamson, who had been in command for New Zealand in the Test series against England and Sri Lanka. Williamson shone after relinquishing the captaincy of the Test squad, hitting hundreds at will.
Williamson, who led SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2022, was let go by his previous team. However, at the mini auction, he was purchased by Gujarat Titans for his base fee of Rs 2 crore.
