Brandon King ruled out of T20 World Cup, Kyle Mayers to replace him

West Indies opening batter Brandon King has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup 2024 due to a side strain he suffered during West Indies’ Super Eight loss against England on June 19. King will be replaced by left-handed opening batter Kyle Mayers for the rest of the tournament.

During the match against England, King had a strong start, scoring 23 off just 12 balls, including a massive 101-metre six off Reece Topley. However, he injured himself while attempting to charge down the track to hit Sam Curran through cover. Despite receiving treatment from the medical staff, he had to retire hurt, and West Indies eventually lost by eight wickets.

King did not field in the run-chase, with Shimron Hetmyer stepping in for him. He then traveled to Barbados for West Indies’ Super Eight fixture against the USA on Friday, awaiting MRI scan results. Unfortunately, he has not recovered in time to continue in the tournament.

The ICC confirmed Mayers as King’s replacement. Mayers, who has played 37 T20Is, is expected to join the squad on Saturday. His inclusion is seen as a boost for West Indies, given his recent form. In 2024, Mayers has scored 367 runs in 11 T20 games with a strike rate of 155.50 and has taken nine wickets with his medium pace.