IPL 2023: RCB replace injured Will Jacks with Kiwi all-rounder for the IPL 16

Royal Challengers Bangalore have roped in New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell as a replacement for Will Jacks, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2023 with an injury.

Will Jacks picked up the injury in England's recent tour against Bangladesh and that means he won't be taking part in the upcoming IPL. Jacks, who was signed by RCB for a whipping INR 3.2 crore, suffered a muscle injury while fielding during England's 2nd ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka. After the scan results and consultation with medical staff, the player has to sit out for this IPL.

Bracewell joins RCB for IPL 2023

Michael Bracewell has been acquired by RCB as a replacement for Jacks and will join them at his base price of INR 1 crore. The all-rounder was unsold in the IPL auction last year.

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Bracewell will provide a much-needed depth for them with bat and ball. The Kiwi player has a decent T20 career, scoring 2284 runs in 117 matches at a strike rate of 133. He also is a decent bowler and has 40 wickets in the T20 format. The 32-year-old will take confidence from the recent India tour where he scored a fantastic century (140 off 78 balls) in the first ODI of the series in January. He also finished the T20I series against India as the highest wicket-taker for the Blackcaps.

🔊 ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊

Michael Bracewell of New Zealand will replace Will Jacks for #IPL2023.

The 32-year-old all-rounder was the top wicket taker for Kiwis during the T20I series in India, and scored a fighting 140 in an ODI game. 🙌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/qO0fhP5LeY

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 18, 2023

RCB opening match in IPL 2023

RCB will be taking on Mumbai Indians in their opening match of the IPL 2023 on April 2 at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Led by South African batter Faf du Plessis, the Bangalore side will be hoping to win their first IPL title.

Bracewell is expected to join the team upon the conclusion of the ODI series against Sri Lanka and may miss the first few matches for his IPL franchise. Bracewell, who has never played in IPL before, will join Faf du Plessis, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Reece Topley and Finn Allen as the overseas contingent of RCB for this IPL season.