Mumbai: Rajasthan Royals’ already depleted side in this year’s Indian Premier League suffered another blow with star opener Graeme Smith being ruled out of the rest of the IPL season with a finger injury.

Smith posted on his Twitter page on Tuesday that he had fractured his right middle finger while pulling off a diving catch to send Virender Sehwag packing in Ahmedabad on Monday. And, the fracture now threatens his participation in the ICC World Twenty20, too. The world championship will begin in West Indies on April 30.

“I have a double fracture in my right middle finger, so will be missing the IPL,” Smith said. “I hurt it taking the catch off Sehwag last night… when I landed, my finger got hooked in the ground.”

Meanwhile, England all-rounder Dmitri Mascarenhas has also been ruled out with an ankle injury. Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne  confirmed that both players were ruled out of the rest of the tournament and would return home.

“Unfortunately (Graeme) Smith and Dimma (Mascarenhas) are going home due to injury. It’s a big setback for us as they are very good players. Their experience will be hugely missed,” Warne tweeted. “We wish them a speedy recovery and hope to see them back in Royals colours again.”

Rajasthan Royals have lost their both matches in the league so far, despite a blazing hundred by Yusuf Pathan in the opening game.

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