West Indian bowling all-rounder Dominic Drakes has been signed for Chennai Super Kings to take part in the remainder of IPL 2021 to replace the injured England all-rounder Sam Curran. Curran has been ruled out of the ongoing IPL and the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2021 due to a back injury.
Drakes was the Mumbai Indians’ net bowler in the IPL 2021 UAE leg. But now he will join the CSK team that has ensured play-offs. They will take on the Punjab Kings today to play the last match of the group stage of the tournament. Drakes could be seen in CSK’s playing XI in this match.
The 23-year-old all-rounder played for St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL 2021 under Dwayne Bravo. The team won the CPL title for the first time this season where Drakes played a key role for the team.
The left-arm pacer took 16 wickets in 11 matches in the CPL 2021 and became the joint fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He also played an important role in the tournament with the bat. He won the Player of the Match award for his stormy innings of 48 from 24 balls against the St. Lucia Kings in the final match. Playing in 19 T20 matches so far, he has taken 20 wickets and scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 159.37 with the bat.
Meanwhile, Curran has played just two matches for CSK in the UAE leg. He did not have a very good season with the ball as he was wicket-less with conceding 56 and 55 runs in the two matches that he played this time against Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. Overall this season, he has taken 9 wickets in 9 matches and scored 56 runs in four innings.
For more recent tidings on IPL 2021, stay with Baji!