Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Navdeep Saini is doubtful for his side’s next game against Mumbai Indians after he split the webbing of his bowling arm against CSK. Saini suffered the injury while attempting to stop the ball off his own bowling – off the last ball in the 18th over – and left the field. Meanwhile, the RCB physiotherapist Evan Speechly has said that he has been given a few stitches and his progression is being monitored. RCB lost the game against CSK by 8 wickets.

Talking to RCB TV, Speechly spoke about the seriousness of Saini’s injury.

“Saini has split his webbing in the last ball there. He obviously got hit on the thumb on the right hand. He has just split the webbing over there. Fortunately, we had a good hand surgeon, he stitched up nicely. So we could just monitor over the night and check it after getting ready for the next game,” said Speechly.

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Navdeep Saini Doubtful For RCB’s Next Game

The RCB physio further said that Saini’s injury is very similar to what Virat Kohli had coped up in 2016. Kohli split his webbing and had to take eight stitches in his thumb. He got himself injured in the game against KKR. He then came back to score a century against Kings XI Punjab in their next game.

“Virat, four-five years ago, he had it in Kolkata, we managed to stop the bleeding and he smashed a 100 after we got a plastic surgeon who had stitched it,” said Speechly, who added that he isn’t sure of when Saini will be ready to play.

Saini has taken five wickets in the 11 matches that he has played so far. If he is not fit to play, Umesh Yadav will replace him in the XI. Yadav played the first two matches for Bangalore and since then has been benched.

Meanwhile, RCB is third on the points table with 14 points along with Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.

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