Kane Williamson ruled out of IPL 2023? Big blow to Gujarat Titans

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IPL 2023: Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the IPL 2023 without even facing a ball, media reports suggested on Saturday. During the first match of the IPL 2023 between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Williamson fell awkwardly on his knee while trying to save a six.

The incident happened in the 13th over of the match when the Gujarat fielder catched the ball hit by CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad at mid-wicket boundary before flicking it and himself going over the ropes. In the process, Williamson landed abruptly on his right knee and winced in pain as the support staff rushed to him.

After a good few minutes with the 32-year-old, the support staff helped him hobble out of the ground. Sai Sudarshan replaced Williamson as an Impact Player in the match. Gujarat captain Hardik gave an update on Williamson's injury following the match and said that the right-hand batter has gone for scans.

However, Hardik confirmed that the New Zealand white-ball captain has injured his knee to an unknown extent. Williamson was roped in by the defending champions for Rs 2 crore at the IPL 2023 auction.

“I just messaged him and I don’t know about the update. He has gone for the scans. So, once he comes back after the scans and the doctors checks, then exactly we will be able to know what exactly it is.

"It is knee for sure, but I don’t know how serious it is or how much time it will take,” Hardik said in the post-match press conference.

GT won their opening match of the season by beating CSK by five wickets and four balls remaining at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Batting first Chennai, settled for 178/7 despite a 50-ball 92 from Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Gujarat chased down the total with ease later. Opener Shubman Gill scored 63 runs off 36 balls for the Ahmedabad-based franchise. Gujarat's Rashid Khan was declared Man of the Match for his all-round show (two wickets and 10* runs).