The New Zealand all-rounder is suffering from an Achilles tendon strain and may withdraw from this year’s tournament if the injury forces him to miss his domestic state championship final from April 6.

The Chennai Super Kings take on the Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the IPL in Cape Town on April 18.

“It will be a big blow for us if Oram is unable to play the IPL,” Super Kings’ cricket operations director VB Chandrasekhar said.

“He had fitted into our team structure quite beautifully last season and we were really looking forward to having him for the whole of the tournament this time around.

“Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming are in New Zealand. They are trying to convince Oram to play the tournament, but if he doesn’t feel up to it, we won’t force him.”Assuming he is fit, the Super Kings will place an even greater workload on Oram given that the tournament’s switch to South Africa has reduced the availability of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

“Flintoff won’t be available for too many matches and Oram and Albie Morkel would have to share the workload,” Chandrasekhar added.

“Obviously Oram’s absence would put Morkel under great strain. But then these guys are actually walking a very fine line.

“It’s not always easy for them to take a call on whether they should preserve themselves for international cricket or go ahead with a tournament like IPL.

“If Oram does give the tournament a miss, his all-round abilities will surely be missed.”
Source – skysports.com