Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 20: West Indies' hopes in the ongoing T20 World Cup have been dealt a severe blow as Brandon King faces uncertainty for the rest of the tournament after suffering a side strain during their match against England in St Lucia on Wednesday night.
The injury occurred when King attempted a powerful cover drive off Sam Curran, forcing him to retire hurt prematurely.
King had made a significant impact early in the innings, scoring 23 off just 12 balls, including a massive 101-meter six off Reece Topley, which required a replacement ball. However, his aggressive start was cut short on his 13th delivery as he crumpled in pain due to the side strain. Despite immediate medical attention, King was unable to continue and has been diagnosed with the injury.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed the setback, stating, "Brandon King has suffered a side strain and will not return to the field of play in this evening's match."
Given that side strains typically require several weeks to heal, King's availability for the remaining World Cup matches, with only 10 days left in the tournament, remains highly uncertain.
The injury is a significant setback for the West Indies, who have relied on King's experience and skill, particularly after his recent stint as captain against South Africa while Rovman Powell was in the IPL. Despite not being in top form during this tournament, King's presence as a senior player has been crucial to the team's dynamics.
In King's absence, the West Indies will need to find a suitable replacement from their standby players, including Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr., and Matthew Forde. Kyle Mayers, known for his versatility and strong recent form, appears to be the frontrunner to fill the void left by King.
As the West Indies prepare for their upcoming Super Eight fixture against the USA at Kensington Oval on Friday, the team faces the challenge of regrouping and adjusting their strategy without King, whose absence will test the depth and resilience of the squad.
West Indies' head coach Phil Simmons acknowledged the setback but expressed confidence in the team's depth, stating, "Losing Brandon is a blow, but we have a strong squad with capable players ready to step up. We'll be evaluating our options and making the necessary adjustments ahead of our next match."
