IPL 2018: Kolkata Knight Riders suffer massive blow as Mitchell Starc gets ruled out

Australia's injury-prone fast bowler Mitchell Starc was on Friday ruled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League due to a stress fracture in his right leg, dealing a blow to his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders' prospects.

The pacer was also ruled out of the fourth and final Test against South Africa, which started in Johannesburg on Friday.

"Mitchell Starc has a 'tibial bone stress in his right leg'. He will return home for further assessment after the Test and will miss the IPL," Cricket Australia tweeted.

The left-arm pacer was bought by KKR for Rs 9.4 crore at the IPL auction in January, but will not take place in the lucrative tournament this season now.

Starc was replaced for the final Test against South Africa by South Australia's Chadd Sayers and will fly home after the series for further injury investigation and assessment.

KKR will be able to choose a replacement from the Registered and Available Player Pool (RAPP). The Kinght Riders already have R Vinay Kumar, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi and Javon Searles as parth of their pace attack.