England fast bowler Reece Topley has been ruled out of IPL 2023 after dislocating his right shoulder during Royal Challengers Bangalore's opening game of the tournament against Mumbai Indians on April 2. South Africa allrounder Wayne Parnell has been named Topley's replacement.
Royal Challengers have also named Karnataka medium-pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak as Rajat Patidar's replacement*.
Topley took 1 for 14 from his two overs on debut, dismissing Cameron Green, but injured himself while making a diving stop in the field.
He travelled to Kolkata with the rest of the Royal Challengers squad on Monday with his arm in a sling but was replaced in the starting XI by his compatriot David Willey, and has now returned to the UK.
"Reece, unfortunately, had to go back home because he has been ruled out of the tournament," Sanjay Bangar, Royal Challengers' head coach, told the IPL's world feed during Thursday night's game against Kolkata Knight Riders. "We tried our best to keep him here, but the treatment and the experts suggest that he is going to be out of action for some time."
Topley was signed for INR 1.9 crore (£190,000 approx.) by Royal Challengers, having entered December's auction with a base price of INR 75 lakh (£75,000 approx.). He also attracted bids from Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. He is the third Royal Challengers player to be ruled out for the season with injury after Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar.
Topley's professional career has been plagued by regular injuries, most recently when he missed the T20 World Cup after rolling his ankle when stepping on a boundary cushion before a warm-up match.
Parnell, meanwhile, last played in the IPL in 2014. He was part of the now defunct Pune Warriors side from 2011 to 2013 and then represented Delhi Capitals (previously Daredevils) in 2014. He has played a total of 26 matches in the IPL, taking 26 wickets. Overall, he has played 257 T20s, taking 259 wickets and scoring 1887 runs. He has been roped in for INR 75 lakh.
Vyshak, meanwhile, has played 31 matches across formats for Karnataka since 2021. He has taken 22 wickets in 14 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy over the last two seasons, and has been bought by Royal Challengers for INR 20 lakh.
Bangar also confirmed that Wanindu Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood are expected to join the squad on April 10 and April 14 respectively. Royal Challengers' next game is against Lucknow Super Giants at home on April 10, and Bangar did not rule out the possibility that Hasaranga could be involved in that game.
"Hasaranga will arrive for us on the 10th, so depending on the time of his arrival and how he copes with the long flight from New Zealand is something we'll have to think [about]," he said. "But in the meantime, Karn [Sharma] has taken his chances really well, so that's another headache for us - but it's a good headache."
Hazlewood, meanwhile, could make his comeback from an Achilles injury against Chennai Super Kings on April 17, according to Bangar. The bowler himself had previously suggested he would have to wait for either of their fixtures on April 20 or 23 to return.
"Josh is about to arrive on the 14th," Bangar said. "He'll have a couple of sessions with us and should be ready to go, hopefully, by the 17th."
*GMT 8.40am - The copy was updated with information on Reece Topley and Rajat Patidar's replacements in the RCB squad