Usman Khwaja Replaces Faf du Plessis in Rising Pune Supergiants

By: Tarish Bhatt

Right before facing Gujarat Lions in a crucial game, Rising Pune Supergiants faced a huge setback as they have lost their batting mainstay Faf du Plessis to a finger injury.

Faf has been in fine form for the Supergiants, and had a couple of fifties in the tournament. He was one of the leading run scorers for the MS Dhoni-led side.

The Pune-based franchisee, meanwhile, have roped-in Australian Usman Khawaja, who went unsold in the auction, despite being in a form of his life.

In the recently concluded World T20, Khawaja scored at an average of 35.75 for Australia, and was one of the leading run-scorers in the Big Bash League.

“One of our mainstays du Plessis has injured his finger during the course of the last match and has returned to South Africa for further treatment,” Fleming informed. “We wish him speedy recovery.”

“We are glad to have roped in Usman Khawaja in the team,” he added. “His presence will definitely be an advantage to the team and could be pivotal in bolstering the position of the side in the tournament.”

Inclusion of Khawaja will certainly boost Pune’s already depleting batting line-up, which had earlier lost Kevin Pietersen to a calf injury, and now du Plessis.