IPL 10: Brendon McCullum ruled out of remainder part of the season

The Gujarat Lions have been dented with a severe blow as their star overseas batsman Brendon McCullum has been ruled out of the tournament. McCullum will no longer be the part of the Gujarat camp this season. The former Kiwi skipper injured his left hamstring that will see head back home earlier then the scheduled date of departure. While the team had a very lackluster season thus far, McCullum, on the personal front, was exceptional.

Brendon McCullum is the second leading run-getter for the Gujarat Lions this season. He featured in all the fixtures for the Lions this season. McCullum played 11 matches this season and aggregated 320 runs at an average just below 30. He batted with a strike rate of 145.45 in the season with two fifties to his name. He held the fort for the team at the opening slot on most occasions this season.

While the Lions kept experimenting with the other opening slot, McCullum was the one fixed player at the top order. His best performance this season had come against the Royal Challengers Bangalore when he plundered 72 runs in the losing cause. He has been unlucky to have been unable to win the matches for his side – unlike his reputation of being the match-winner.

The Gujarat Lions are already out of contention for the playoffs. In the 11 matches that they have played, Lions have managed to win only 3 games to earn 6 points to their credit. Even if they win their remaining three encounters, they will only have an outside sniff at the playoffs. Albeit, even that would be unlikely.

Well, in all fairness, his departure from the season might not hurt the chances of the Gujarat Lions any further. In fact, they will now have the chance to test their bench strength in his absence. Also, the exit is a clear ruling that he will not don the Gujarat Lions jersey on the field again as the franchise is set to be a defunct one from the next edition of the tournament.