IPL 2023: 3 Possible Replacement Options for Will Jacks at RCB

The stage of the biggest T20 extravaganza- IPL 2023 has been set. Fortunately for the fans in India, the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League will return to its traditional home-and-away format for the first time since the 2019 season, bringing an end to its COVID-19 restrictions. Franchises have already begun preparations for the upcoming 16th edition of the tournament.

But even before all the signed players of the teams can come together and kickstart their preparations for the league, franchises have been hit by injuries to their players. Few players will not be in action in this year’s IPL either due to their injuries or the rehabilitation that they are undergoing to recover from injury. Eleven players are struggling with their respective injuries and most of them are already out of the 2023 edition of the IPL.

IPL 2023: Jacks Ruled Out Due to Injury

RCB is already experiencing a difficult 2023 campaign as a key member of the team has entered the injury list. Will Jacks, RCB’s most expensive player in the IPL 2023 auction, has been ruled out due to injury. Jacks was due to represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming IPL campaign after being picked up for Rs 3.2 crore at auction. Earlier he was ruled out of the Bangladesh tour midway after suffering a left thigh injury. After that, there were growing speculations about Jacks missing out on his maiden IPL season. 

It is a major concern for Faf du Plessis’ side, given the amount of money they invested in the English all-rounder. He would’ve provided balance to the team with his powerpack batting and useful off-spin and also could act as cover for Glenn Maxwell, who just recovered from a freak injury. Maxwell is a crucial member of the RCB side, but he himself is returning after a long layoff. Now that Jacks is out of IPL 2023, the big question is who can replace Rishabh Pant as captain of the Delhi Capitals’ side in IPL 2023? In this listicle, we look at 3 possible replacement options.

Here Are the Top 3 Options RCB Could Choose to Replace the Injured Will Jacks:

3) Travis Head

Head has been in red-hot form with the bat. Be it white-ball cricket or red-balk cricket, Head has shown that he has got all the tools in his kit to accumulate runs. The Australian batter played his last IPL season in 2017 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. His returns were decent with the bat. In his 10 appearances for RCB between 2016 and 2017, Head averaged 29 and had a strike rate of 138.

Having registered himself for the upcoming auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore, he failed to attract buyers, but given his familiarity with the RCB setup, Head could be a viable option for RCB. He can be a like-to-like replacement for Jacks- a top-order batter who can bowl off-spin.

2) Dasun Shanaka

It did take everyone by surprise when the Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka went unsold at the IPL 2023 auction last month despite having a base price of only Rs 50 lakhs. However, the hard-hitting all-rounder let his bat do the talking in Sri Lanka’s last tour to India earlier this year. Shankar is an experienced T20 campaigner and has a great record playing the format in India. Although a seam-bowling all-rounder, Shanaka can match Jacks for his ball-striking ability.

A powerful striker of the cricket ball, Shanaka can strengthen RCB’s lower middle order and can also chip in with the ball. The Lankan skipper is yet to play in the IPL and his current form calls for his participation in the toughest T20 league as a replacement for Jacks at RCB.

1) Michael Bracewell

Another player who is yet to make his IPL debut but has left enough impression at the international level is New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell. The late bloomer at the top level, Bracewell had entered the IPL mini auction at a base price of Rs 1 crore, but he couldn’t tempt the teams to buy him. Teams must have had regret for not picking the Kiwi player after watching his all-around brilliance against India back in January this year.

Although the Kiwis lost both T20I and ODI series, Bracewell left an impression through his all-round performance. He stunned the cricketing world with the blistering knock of 140 runs in 78 balls in the first ODI in Hyderabad. The southpaw displayed his batting prowess by hitting 12 boundaries and ten sixes during his stay at the crease. A brilliant hitter of the white ball and a canny operator with the ball, New Zealand’s multi-faceted player- Bracewell should be the first choice of RCB for the replacement of Jacks.