IPL 2023: KL Rahul and Lucknow Super Giants suffer huge blow as Star Bowler set to leave in May

Lucknow Super Giants bowler Mark Wood will be missing the latter stages of the IPL 2023 season as he is set to fly to England for the birth of his child.

The expected birth is scheduled in the latter half of May, and thus the Lucknow franchise will be without their star pacer at the flag end of the season and possible knockout stage matches.

Wood and his wife Sarah are expecting their second baby in May and the Englishman is scheduled to fly to his country tentatively between the third and fourth week of May to be present during the birth. And as it stands, the player may not be coming back for the remainder of the season.

Wood has been one of the standout performers from LSG so far this season. The England pacer has picked up 11 wickets in just 4 matches, which includes a 5/14 in his LSG debut match against the Delhi Capitals.

The fiery pacer missed the last two matches due to illness but looks set to face Punjab Kings in their next match on April 28. They faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans in the last match. They needed 30 runs in 34 balls with 9 wickets in hand, but ended up losing by 7 runs.

Wood has so far played 28 Tests, 59 ODIs and 28 T20Is for England and has 90, 71 and 45 wickets in those formats respectively. He is in the reckoning to be a part of England's upcoming Ashes squad.

Wood was roped in by LSG in the IPL 2022 auction. Before that, he was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad and played a solitary match against MI in 2018. Wood's departure at the latter stages will be a massive blow for LSG.

The 33-year-old has been their premier pacer this season and if Wood is unavailable in the playoff matches, that will be an issue Lucknow have find a solution to. LSG currently sit third in the IPL table with 8 points after seven matches.