Brendan Taylor has been officially ruled out of the ongoing T20 World Cup due to a hamstring injury. Zimbabwe’s captain, Sikandar Raza, announced this at the toss before their match against Australia in Colombo.
Injury Forces Taylor’s Exit
The veteran wicketkeeper-batter sustained a hamstring injury during Zimbabwe’s opening match of the tournament against Oman. In that game, he had managed to score 31 runs off 30 balls before retiring hurt. While behind the stumps, he also recorded three catches.
Ben Curran Steps In
In light of Taylor’s injury, top-order batter Ben Curran has been selected as his replacement. This will mark Curran’s debut in T20 international cricket, despite his impressive record in other formats. He has scored 872 runs in 40 T20 innings, boasting a strike rate of 126.01 and a best score of 71.
Upcoming Matches
Zimbabwe still has at least two more matches left in the tournament. There was speculation that Taylor might not be fit to play against Australia, as team management decided to prioritize his recovery for future games.
Taylor’s Comeback Story
Brendan Taylor’s return to international cricket is noteworthy, as it followed a three-and-a-half year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. His suspension concluded on July 25, 2025.
Following his suspension, Taylor was named in Zimbabwe’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand in August, participating in two Tests, two ODIs, and 14 T20Is. Overall, he has amassed 282 runs in T20s, including a standout innings of 123 runs against Botswana during a World Cup qualifying match in September.
- Player Exiting: Brendan Taylor
- Replacement: Ben Curran
- Injury: Hamstring
- Matches Left: At least two in the tournament
- Taylor’s T20 Stats: 282 runs in 14 matches
- Last Match Played: Against Oman
With Curran stepping in, Zimbabwe hopes to maintain their competitive edge in the remaining matches of the T20 World Cup.
