'Tussi na jao' - Fans react as LSG pacer Mark Wood set to miss final stages of IPL 2023

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed thrilling and entertaining matches so far, with several high-voltage and high-octane games. There are many players who are available but are not able to play for their respective teams due to not injury concerns or other issues. Almost all the teams are struggling with some of their key players missing due to injuries. 

And now bad news has come to the fore for KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as it is reported that their premium fast bowler Mark Wood will go back to his home even before the end of IPL 2023 to attend his daughter’s birth at the end of the next month. Wood missed the last match for LSG after being told he was not fully fit. It is now learned that Mark Wood is going to be a father and during this time he wants to be with his wife, so he will leave India and go to England.

“Mark Wood and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May, and Wood will fly home at some point in the coming weeks in order to be present at the birth. At this stage, it appears unlikely that he would return to India afterward” reported ESPN Cricinfo.

Naveen-ul-Haq has performed well in Wood's absence

Wood may go back to his home at the end of May, but the rest of England players can continue playing IPL. The right-arm speedster had missed his last two matches. But his performance was brilliant as he has taken 11 wickets for LSG in the four matches he has played so far, including the one match when he took a five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals (DC). However, there is also little hope that he will be able to come back to India after the birth of the child.

The team of LSG will go on to play their next match on the 28th of April. This match will be against Punjab Kings (PBKS). After this, the LSG team will play two consecutive matches at their home on May 1 and 3. However, in the absence of Wood, LSG have given a chance to Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq in the playing XI, who has bowled really well in the last two matches.

Here's how fans reacted:

Pregnant ye h ki wo? Daughter ko final ke baad dekh hi sakta h.

— Malakpet Markram (@Sandesh_B_J) April 25, 2023

Birth of daughter
Matlab paida hone se pehle hi pata chal gya hai kya ?

— Kunal Gupta (@KunalGupta0037) April 25, 2023

To abhi kaunsa khel rha hai

— Deepak Rajpurohit²⁴ 🇮🇳 (@DeepakSinghGRaj) April 25, 2023

It's world cup year foreign players are not intresting in playing ipl

— The BôoGeyMãn18😈 (@thevoldomart) April 25, 2023

Still naveen bowling well so not much problem

— Johnmuffa (@ictblood) April 25, 2023

Ye kab khela wo batao 🥴

— The BôoGeyMãn18😈 (@thevoldomart) April 25, 2023

Fear of Dhoni

— . (@csk7dhoni11) April 25, 2023

No problem Mosin Khan will be there

— Rajasheker Reddi (@reddirajasheker) April 25, 2023

Hmm kisi ki shaadi ho rhi hai kisi ke bache horhe hai koi hospital me injured pada hai kya bna diya ipl ka

— Karan (@Karan99906708) April 25, 2023

Yeh England player kitne unprofessional hote hai yrr , yeh aaj bhi hume loot rhe hai

— Front Foot 🦶🏏 (@frontfoot73) April 25, 2023