The Gujarat Titans are set to be without the services of former Kiwi Test skipper Kane Williamson after the bearded batter injured his knee during the franchise's tournament opener against Chennai on Saturday night.
Williamson, 32, fell awkwardly in the field during the Titans' five-wicket win, having to be helped from the field after being unable to place any weight on the ailing joint.
As stated byย New Zealand Cricketย and confirmed by Gujarat, Williamson will return home to Tauranga next week, ruling him out of the remainder of the IPL tournament.
Williamson is expected to be given an established treatment plan by relevant specialists in the coming weeks and days.
The extent of the world-class leader's injury is not yet known.
"It is sad to lose Kane to injury so early in the tournament. We wish him a speedy recovery, with the hope of seeing him in action very soon," Titans' director of cricket Vikram Solanki said via a press statement.
Williamson is expected to miss New Zealand's upcoming five ODI, five T20 tour of Pakistan that is scheduled to get underway mid-way through this month.
The Blackcaps are currently doing battle against Sri Lanka on home soil, with the tourists currently leading the best-of-three T20 series 1-0 after their Super Over victory in Auckland at the weekend.
