Foreign stars begin IPL exodus as World Cup duty calls
De Kock and Rabada leave Delhi Capitals to join Protea teammates
New Delhi — SA’s Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada are leading an exodus of foreign stars from the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the looming World Cup draws top names to report for international duty. “De Kock and Rabada — both playing for Delhi Capitals — are guys who are doing extremely well and will be missed,” said sports journalist Ayaz Memon. England’s Jonny Bairstow, who has been a key player for Sunrisers Hyderabad with 445 runs in 10 matches in the high-octane Twenty20 competition, is another heading home. Hyderabad’s batting powerhouse David Warner is also in line to leave the IPL in the next week to team up with his Australia teammates before the 50-over global showpiece in England and Wales, starting on May 30. The world’s most popular Twenty20 league ends on May 12, leaving most of the eight teams to rely on their benches as they race toward the playoffs. Memon believes the glitzy IPL will lose some of its sheen as a result. “It will have a pretty big impact,” he said...
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