IPL 2016, Match Preview: RCB to miss Gayle, Pollard available for MI

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s star batsman Chris Gayle will miss at least the next two IPL games as he has gone back to the West Indies to be with his partner Natasha Berridge and new-born son, while Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians is now fit for today’s match.

Chris Gayle will miss today’s away game against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium here and also the next game against Rising Pune Supergiants in Pune on Friday. RCB face Gujarat Lions on Sunday in Rajkot.

Chris Gayle’s RCB teammate Sarfaraz Khan said it was still not known how many games he would miss. “He has got a son. He’s gone back (to Jamaica) to see him,” said Sarfaraz at the pre-match media conference today. “It’s uncertain how many games he will miss before rejoining the squad.

Meanwhile, Pollard, who had missed Mumbai Indians last game as he was down with food poisoning, has recovered and is available for selection tomorrow. “Yes, all are available for selection. Kieron Pollard suffered from food poisoning in the last game. He did not make the trip to Hyderabad. He’s here today and we will have full intensity practice session,” Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting said.