CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will miss the services of Mitchell Santner in the upcoming IPL season as the New Zealand all-rounder has been ruled out of action for about nine months due to a bone defect in his knee, requiring surgery.
Santner was today omitted from his country's Test team after scans showed he needed a surgery.
New Zealand Cricket said Santner felt some discomfort while playing and scans showed a "bone defect" had deteriorated.
The in-form Santner had been picked up by CSK during the IPL auctions for Rs 50 lakh and was expected to play a key role for the team.
"It is too early to decide now. We will take a call on the replacement for Santner in due course after consulting with the head coach (Stephen Fleming) and captain (MS Dhoni)," a CSK official told PTI.