New Delhi, 16 April (H.S.):

Chennai Super Kings suffered a significant setback in the Indian Premier League when key pacer Khaleel Ahmed was ruled out of the entire tournament due to a quadriceps (thigh) injury. The 28-year-old left-arm seamer, integral to CSK's bowling attack, sustained the damage during their match against Kolkata Knight Riders at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

In the 17th over's final delivery against KKR, Khaleel abruptly halted mid-run-up, clutching his right leg—initially mistaken for cramps. After a brief attempt to continue, visible discomfort forced him off the field, with Gurjapneet Singh completing the over.

Khaleel's absence disrupts CSK's death-over balance, following earlier losses like Nathan Ellis. Maharashtra pacers Mukesh Choudhary (left-arm) and Ramkrishna Ghosh (right-arm) emerge as replacements, potentially reshaping team combinations for upcoming fixtures.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar