Jonny Bairstow ruled out of 2023 Indian Premier League, Punjab Kings draft in Matthew Short

Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the 2023 Indian Premier League as his recovery from a broken leg continues.

The England wicketkeeper-batsman suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle when slipping on a tee box during a round of golf in September.

The injury put paid to the 33-year-old’s hopes of featuring at the T20 World Cup, which England won in superb fashion.

He had one eye on a possible return for the Punjab Kings in the IPL, which gets underway next week.

However, he has not recovered in time – with Kings coach Trevor Bayliss confirming Bairstow had been replaced in the squad by Australian batter Matthew Short.

“Unfortunately Jonny Bairstow won’t be with us this campaign – his injury hasn’t recovered in time,” Bayliss said. “We wish him a speedy recovery; it’s a shame not to have a player of his standing.”

Bairstow is back in training and batting in the nets, and he is expected to feature for Yorkshire in the County Championship. The season gets underway on April 6, with Bairstow tentatively pencilled in to play in early May.

Provided his rehab goes as planned, Bairstow will be in contention for the Ashes series against Australia later in the summer.

England will hope Bairstow can return to the sort of form that saw him score 1,061 runs in 10 Tests in 2022.