Mumbai, Mar 30, 2023, IANS

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS): Four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Thursday named Akash Singh as a replacement for injured pacer Mukesh Choudhary.

Choudhary, who made his IPL debut last season and scalped 16 wickets, is recovering from a stress fracture and hence, is sidelined from the 16th edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL).

The announcement was made on Thursday, the eve of CSK's season-opener against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

Akash Singh, who was a part of India's Under-19 World Cup team in 2020, previously played for Rajasthan Royals.

The left-arm pacer has thus far played nine T20s in addition to nine List A matches and five First-Class games and has 31 wickets against his name. He will join CSK for INR 20 lakh.

Akash Singh is the second player to join CSK as a replacement after Sisanda Magala.

South Africa pacer Sisanda Magala came in as a replacement for New Zealand bowler Kyle Jamieson for IPL 2023. Jamieson, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury, was bought by the franchise for INR 1 crore.

Magala has rich experience in the shortest format of the game though he has played just 4 T20Is and has a reputation for being a regular wicket-taker in domestic T20 games over the years. He joined CSK at his base price of INR 50 lakh.