Nagraj Gollapudi, News editor, ESPNcricinfo 3y

Amit Mishra ruled out of IPL 2020 with finger injury

IPL, Cricket

India legspinner Amit Mishra has been ruled out of the IPL with a finger injury, dealing a significant blow to the Delhi Capitals. Mishra sustained a flexor tendon injury to the ring finger of his bowling hand while attempting a return catch in the Capitals' last match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on October 3.

Mishra was the third-highest wicket-taker for the Capitals in the IPL and had featured in their last three matches. He had taken just three wickets but at an economy rate of 7.20. All his three wickets were top order batsmen, including David Warner and Manish Pandey against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Shubman Gill in the match against the Knight Riders where he bowled just two overs before leaving the field with the injury.

The Capitals will especially feel Mishra's absence since wristspinners have once again proved to be impact bowlers in the first fortnight of the IPL, with Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar and Piyush Chawla in the top-10 wicket-takers' list. The Capitals are currently second in the points table with three wins in four matches.

Mishra was one of the two wristpinners in the Capitals' squad along with Nepal legspinner Sandeeep Lamichhane. It is now likely that Lamichhane would be drafted into the playing XI at the expense of Shimron Hetmyer, who has mostly been used in the lower-middle order.