Gujarat Titans, a newcomer to the IPL, suffers a major setback just weeks before the start of the 2022 season. Jason Roy, their England opener, has opted to withdraw from the event. Apart from Shubman Gill, Roy was the only other specialist opener picked up by the franchise.
Gujarat Titans purchased him for Rs 2 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction. This marks the second time that Jason Roy has decided not to play in the IPL after finding a team during the auction. Previously, Delhi Capitals signed him up in 2020 for his then base fee of Rs 1.5 crore. However he opted out due to personal reasons.
Jason Roy’s Reason For Withdrawal
Roy allegedly claimed bio-bubble weariness as the reason for his departure, according to reports. The competition will begin on March 26 and conclude on May 29 with the final. Roy and his wife welcomed their second kid in January. Roy would have to be away from his family for almost two months if he played in the 2022 season.
The Englishman was recently seen in action for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022. With 303 runs he was the leading run-scorer for the squad. Averaging 50.5 runs per game and a strike rate of 170.22, he scored one hundred and two fifties.
Jason Roys’s IPL career
The Titans was Roy’s fourth franchise in the Indian Premier League. He formerly played for Gujarat Lions (2017), Delhi Daredevils (2018), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (2021). The Hyderabad franchise recruited him as a replacement for Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh after going unsold at the 2021 auction. Roy has 329 runs in 13 matches including two fifties. He has an average of 29.90 and a strike rate of 129.01.
His form enthralled the Gujarat Titans, who were counting down the days before he could debut with Shubman Gill in the IPL 2022. The Gujarat franchise formed a solid core team after drafting Hardik Pandya, Gill, and Rashid Khan during the auction. They signed Mohammed Shami, an experienced Indian pace bowler, as well as Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, and Wriddhiman Saha. The Titans are now scrambling to find a replacement for Roy after this setback.
Endnote
During the league phase, the IPL 2022 will feature ten teams and will take place in Mumbai and Pune. Throughout the season, teams will operate in a bubble. The IPL, on the other hand, has yet to provide the teams with the norms and protocols.
