IPL 2024: Boost For CSK As Injured New Zealand Trio Set To Be Fit And Available For Season Opener vs RCB

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Chennai Super Kings received a major boost as injured New Zealand trio are likely to be fit and available before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Kiwi trio of Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell will not featured in New Zealand's final T20I match against Australia on Sunday (February 25), but the head coach confirmed the trio will be available for the upcoming Test series.

While Mitchell was ruled out of the T20I series on the whole due to a foot injury, Ravindra missed the second T20I due to pain in the knee, and Conway picked up a thumb injury during the second T20I in Auckland on Friday (February 23).

Conway injured his left thumb while wicket-keeping and sustained the injury during the second over of the match when the ball wobbled and struck his left thumb off Adam Milne, who was bowling over 140kph.

Conway was forced to leave the field with Finn Allen taking over the 'keeping duties for the remainder of the innings. The Blackcaps issued an update regarding Conway's injury, stating the wicketkeeper-batter had been for X-Rays, which cleared him of fracture.

While the opener did not come to bat in the run chase, he has been ruled out of the third T20I along with Ravindra. However, the duo along with Mitchell are likely to be available for the Test series, starting next week.

Head coach Gary Stead said Mitchell and Ravindra will be fit for the first Test, but he is not sure about Conway's availability for the first Test, starting on February 29. That doubt remains only for the first Test, and the southpaw is expected to be fit for the second Test next month.

This comes as a boost to both New Zealand and IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, who will be playing the 2024 season opener at home against RCB on March 22.

CSK, who already had Kiwis in the form of Conway and Mitchell Santner, bought Ravindra and Mitchell during the IPL auction 2024 in December last year following their excellent showing in the ODI World Cup 2023.