Khawaja frontrunner to replace injured Pietersen for Pune Supergiants

Australian opener Usman Khawaja is among the frontrunners to replace injured Kevin Pietersen in the Indian Premier League franchise Rising Pune Supergiants squad.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja is among the frontrunners to replace injured Kevin Pietersen in the Indian Premier League franchise Rising Pune Supergiants squad.

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja celebrates his fifty runs during the ICC World T20. (PTI Photo)

Pietersen was ruled out of the IPL with a calf injury sustained during his side’s 13-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium on Friday.

Pune coach Stephen Fleming said that they are surely looking forward to play Khawaja, who was gone unsold at the IPL auction in February.

“There is a shortlist we are working through so looking at availability and visas and the likes, but he (Khawaja) is certainly a guy we are interested in,” Fleming was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Khawaja had displayed an imperious form for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League victory last season. He amassed a total of 342 in four innings he played in the tournament.

He was also the leading run-scorer for Australia in the recently-concluded World T20, averaging 35.75 with a top score of 58.