IPL: Mumbai’s Simmons ruled out, to be replaced by Martin Guptill

Mumbai Indians opener Lendl Simmons has been ruled of the remainder of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a lower back injury.

Mumbai Indians opener Lendl Simmons has been ruled of the remainder of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a lower back injury.

Lendl Simmons’ injury has led to Martin Guptill’s entry to the IPL, despite not being picked during the auction. (REUTERS)

New Zealand prolific batsman Martin Guptill, who was the highest run-getter for his side in the 2015 World Cup and had a successful World T20 as well, has been brought in as a replacement for the injured West Indies batsman, ESPNcricinfo reported Mumbai coach Ricky Ponting as saying in a mid-match interview conducted during Mumbai’s six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday.

Despite a base price of Rs 50 lakh and an excellent T20 record, Guptill was earlier unpicked in the IPL auction, a decision that was widely questioned given the performance he had in the World T20,

Simmons, who was dismissed for just eight runs in his side’s opening IPL match against Pune Supergiants, suffered a similar injury during the World T20 that forced him to withdraw from the first stage of the tournament.

He, however, later joined the Caribbean side in place of the injured Andre Fletcher and played a match-winning knock against India to take the Windies into the final.

Simmons was also the highest run-scorer for Mumbai Indians during their title chase in IPL 2015, smashing 540 runs in 13 matches.