IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings rope in uncapped West Indies all-rounder as Sam Curran's replacement

Chennai Super Kings have signed uncapped West Indies all-rounder, Dominic Drakes as a replacement for the injured England all-rounder Sam Curran, who has returned home for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

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Drakes impressed one and all with both bat and ball in the 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playing for the Dwayne Bravo-led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who eventually won the title. The left-hander was the hero for them in the final against Saint Lucia Kings playing an unbeaten knock of 48 runs off just 24 balls, helping the Patriots chase down a total of 160 runs.

Drakes, who has featured in one First-Class, 25 List A and 19 T20 matches so far, was also the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 16 scalps in 11 games. He was in the IPL bubble with the Mumbai Indians as a net bowler.

Chennai Super Kings take on Punjab Kings in their last league game of the IPL 2021 on October 7 at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai.

Earlier, Sam Curran was ruled out of the ICC men's T20 World Cup with a lower back injury ahead of the showpiece event. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Curran complained of back pain after Chennai Super Kings' Indian Premier League fixture on Saturday against Rajasthan Royals.

"Results of the scan revealed the injury. He will fly back to the UK in the next couple of days and will have further scans and a full review later this week from the ECB's medical team," ECB said in a statement on Tuesday.