KKR to miss Gambhir during CL T20 qualifiers

Kolkata Knight Riders will miss the services of skipper Gautam Gambhir in the upcoming Champions League Twenty20 qualifying tournament as he has not recovered sufficiently from the concussion he sustained during India’s fourth Test against England at The Oval, it has been reported.

Veteran South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis will lead the team in Gambhir’s absence.

A Kolkata official has told ESPNcricinfo that Gambhir, who is the captain of the side, may still recover in time for the main tournament, should the team make it through the qualifier, which will be played from September 19 to 21.

Gambhir was sent home from the tour of England earlier this month after hitting his head on the ground while attempting to catch Kevin Pietersen on the third day of the Oval Test.

Since his return, Gambhir has been consulting a leading neurologist in New Delhi, and while the doctor has been happy with the progress he has made the player has been advised to start physical training gradually, the report added.

Kolkata are hopeful that if they go through to the main tournament, Gambhir would then have had another week to recover and be ready for their potential first game in the main stage on September 25.

Venky Mysore, Kolkata’s chief executive, said in a statement that “the decision to play was completely left to Gautam and his doctors and hoped he would make a quick return to the game”.

Kolkata will also be without the services of Eoin Morgan - who is due to have shoulder surgery - and Brad Haddin, who will be playing in Australia’s third Test against Sri Lanka which begins in Colombo on September 16.

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