England opener Jason Roy has made a difficult yet commendable decision to step away from the upcoming IPL 2024 season with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), citing personal well-being as his top priority. This move comes as Roy prioritizes his family commitments over his cricketing obligations, demonstrating a rare but necessary act of self-care in the often-demanding world of professional sports.

With his daughter’s fifth birthday coinciding with the start of the IPL season, Roy felt compelled to be present for this significant milestone in her life, choosing to prioritize family time over cricketing endeavors.

Roy’s Decision and its Impact on KKR

In light of Roy’s withdrawal, KKR has swiftly moved to secure the services of fellow England opener Phil Salt as his replacement. Salt, known for his explosive batting style, brings a fresh dynamic to the team and will be eager to make his mark in the IPL arena alongside his new teammates.

“Missing this year’s IPL was a huge decision,” Roy shared. “I felt like I owe them a huge amount, but I just had to put myself first, just mindset and body.”

Reflecting on his decision, Roy expressed gratitude for the trust and support shown by KKR, especially considering his successful stint with the team during IPL 2023. In that season, Roy showcased his batting prowess by contributing an impressive 285 runs in just eight matches, solidifying his reputation as a valuable asset in the T20 format.

“I’ve come off the back of not a huge amount of cricket,” Roy explained. “The last couple of months have really taken it out of me.”

Roy prioritizes his personal well-being

Roy’s decision to prioritize personal well-being and family commitments over professional obligations highlights the importance of self-care and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, even in the competitive realm of professional cricket. This choice is particularly poignant given Roy’s past experiences, including his indefinite break from cricket in 2022, which saw him miss the IPL season with the Gujarat Titans.

“It’s your decision,” Roy emphasized. “A lot of thought has gone into it, and it’s become far easier to talk about and a far easier decision, just because you know, especially from past experiences, what that can do to you.”

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While Roy’s absence may be felt on the field, his decision serves as a reminder of the significance of prioritizing mental and emotional health, both for athletes and individuals alike. By listening to his own needs and recognizing the importance of family, Roy sets an inspiring example for others in the sporting world and beyond.

World’s most expensive franchise cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, is all set to begin on 22nd March 2024. This league has a special place in the hearts of cricket fans as well as cricketing players. Every year, the tournament sees top players from around the globe showcasing their skills in intense and thrilling matches. However, injuries, personal reasons, and other factors sometimes lead to players exiting the tournament. Here’s the list of major players who are already out of IPL 2024:

Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans):

Star India’s pacer underwent successful surgery for a right heel problem last month in London, which he suffered during the ODI World Cup 2023. He was the leading wicket-taker in the previous edition of the ODI World Cup, picking 24 wickets in just seven matches. But now, he won’t be available for the IPL 2024. In the last of the IPL, Shami bagged 28 wickets in 17 games at an economy rate of 8.03. For GT, this will be a major void, and they have yet to announce a replacement for him.

Prasidh Krishna (Rajasthan Royals):

Prasidh is the second Indian Pacer in this list to be ruled out of IPL 2024 after undergoing surgery on his left proximal quadriceps tendon in February. Now, he won’t feature for the Royals for the second consecutive time in the IPL. He played the last match in the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka against Gujarat in January 2024. Rajasthan Royals have yet to announce his. Krishna has played 51 matches and took 49 wickets, with an average of 34.76. In the IPL Auction 2024, the Rajasthan franchise acquired him for the whooping price of Rs 10.00 Cr.

See Also: Shami Ruled Out of IPL 2024, Eyes Return via BGT 2024-25

Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants):

The Premium English pacer, who is known for his lethal deliveries, was pulled out by his cricket board from the upcoming IPL season to manage his workload. ECB and Wood were concerned about the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, and that’s why Wood pulled his name from the league. Lucknow Franchise bought him for Rs. 7.5 crore in IPL 2022 auction but he missed the entire tournament due to an elbow injury. But in IPL 2023, Wood showcased his premium bowling skills by taking a fifer in the first game. However, he was featured in just 4 games and picked 11 wickets. LSG named Shamar Joseph “the hero of Gabba Test” as Wood’s replacement for the upcoming season of IPL for Rs. 3 crore.

Jason Roy (Kolkata Knight Riders):

Jason Roy, a destructive top-order batter who can change the time for his team, has pulled out of the IPL due to personal reasons. This is not the first time Roy has pulled out his name from IPL for personal reasons; previously, in 2020 and 2022, he also pulled out from the entire tournament. In the last season, he played 8 games for KKR, and in all matches, he gave a good start for the franchise with a strike rate of 151.60. KKR announced Phil Salt as his replacement. Another hard-hitting English top-order batter who went unsold in the IPL auction 2024, but his impressive performance against West Indies in a T20I series marked his place in IPL 2024.

Harry Brook (Delhi Capitals):

Young English stalwart Harry Brook decided not to play in the IPL 2024 due to some family problems after the death of his grandmother. In the IPL 2024 auction, Brook was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 4 crore. In IPL 2023, Sunrisers Hyderabad brought him for the whooping price of 13.25 crores, but he wasn’t able to leave a lasting impression and could only manage to score 190 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 123.38. Delhi has yet to announce his replacement.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made a significant move by appointing Phil Salt as the replacement for Jason Roy, who withdrew from the upcoming IPL 2024 season due to personal reasons. Roy’s absence poses a challenge for KKR, who heavily relied on his prowess for the new IPL campaign. However, Salt’s recent impressive performances, including two consecutive centuries against West Indies in a T20I series last December, offer hope for KKR’s batting lineup.

Salt’s explosive batting style makes him a valuable addition to KKR, particularly given their struggles in solidifying the opening combination over the past seasons. This decision marks Salt’s second stint in the IPL, having previously represented Delhi Capitals last year, albeit going unsold in the auction this time around.

Bought at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, Salt’s aggressive approach with the bat has garnered attention, notably his remarkable 48-ball century in the 4th T20I against West Indies, jointly holding the record for England’s fastest century.

Phil Salt Steps In: KKR’s Strategic Move to Fill Jason Roy’s Void

In contrast, Roy, retained by KKR before the IPL 2024 auction, had showcased his batting prowess with 285 runs in 8 matches last season, averaging 35.63 with a strike rate of 151.60, including two fifties. Salt, however, offers a promising alternative, having scored 218 runs at a staggering strike rate of 163.91 for Delhi Capitals last season.

The decision to acquire Salt as Roy’s replacement came after KKR had earlier selected Dushmantha Chameera to fill in for Gus Atkinson, who withdrew due to workload management concerns raised by the ECB. Chameera, with an IPL experience of 12 matches and nine wickets to his name, adds depth to KKR’s pace attack, alongside Mitchell Starc, the only other overseas frontline quick in the squad.

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As for Roy, he continues his stint with the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, demonstrating consistent form with 231 runs in seven matches at an average of 33.00 and a strike rate of 149.03. His absence from IPL auctions in previous years, attributed to various factors including his current commitments, highlights the challenges he has faced in securing a spot in the tournament. Roy had joined KKR as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan in IPL 2023, who withdrew due to personal reasons.

A total of close to 25 or more cricketers are found to have pursued the T20 association being drifted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and planned to start off in January next year.

Around 10 cricketers from the Caribbean islands, 10 from Sri Lanka and close to twelve names from England have come ready. Meanwhile, TOI has discovered that Cricket Australia (CA) is inside the procedure of giving Huge Bash contracts to their leading white-ball cricketers including David Warner, Steven Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green among others.

This suggests, top Australian cricketers won’t be out there to play in these new T20 leagues until a couple of them resolve to resign from the format altogether post the T20 World Cup this year and turn ‘free-agents’.

Cricketers from New Zealand as well, barring a few who are learnt to be contemplating a move, will avoid the spic and span T20 league. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is in the process of drafting fresh contracts for their cricketers to remain devoted to local First-Class cricket back home.

Here are some of the big names who have signed up for the league in South Africa as of now while some others are yet to.

Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills from England; Jason Holder, Alzari Joseph, Obed McCoy, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Harry Tector are among the few names currently ready.

That is alongside all the top South African T20 cricketers who are now ready for their own special ‘domestic’ league. The list is still a work in progress as of now.

Mumbai Indians have Kieron Pollard on board although it’s muddled whether the Trinidadian will make himself available for the league in South Africa or the UAE. The Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Sunil Narine and Andre Russell while GMR – the half owner of Delhi Capitals who has contributed to the UAE association has joined Shimron Hetmeyer and Rovman Powell.

The strategy for those signings stays to be in progress and can continue till the end of the World Cup.

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The cricket fraternity is waiting for the World Cup to end because it expects quite a few cricketers will walk around the dusk of their T20 career post the match and will probably be allowed to make their choices.

Meanwhile, the franchise owners in South Africa are furthermore bustling signing support staff. The Lucknow SuperGiants have signed up with Lance Klusener as coach while Chennai Super Kings have hired Eric Simmons to work with Stephen Fleming.

Jason Roy will miss the rest of the T20 World Cup with a calf injury as England’s preparations for their semi-final against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday were dealt a major setback. The in-form opening batter suffered the injury as England lost for the first time in their campaign against South Africa on Saturday, and a subsequent scan has drawn a line through his name for the remainder of the tournament. James Vince has been brought into the squad, having been one of two remaining traveling reserves, with Roy joining left-arm quick Tymal Mills on the sidelines ahead of England’s most important T20 since the 2016 World Cup final.

Roy said: “I’m gutted to be ruled out of the World Cup. It is a bitter pill to swallow. I will be staying on to support the boys, and hopefully, we can go all the way and lift that trophy. It has been an unbelievable journey so far, and we have to continue expressing ourselves and concentrating on ourselves. “The rehab has already started, and even though I’ve torn my calf, I’m going to give myself the best chance of being ready for the T20 tour of the Caribbean at the start of next year.”

England came out to the Gulf without Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Sam Curran, while Mills has succumbed to a right thigh strain and Roy has now joined the casualty list with an injury that looked an immediate concern at Sharjah. Roy has amassed 123 runs in five innings at a 30.75 average and strike-rate of 138.2 in a tournament where he and Jos Buttler have set the tone at the top of the order and England needs little reminding of his value to the team. That was evident during the 2019 50-over World Cup group stage when a torn hamstring meant he missed the defeats to Australia and Sri Lanka before his comeback corresponded with an upturn in fortunes for the eventual champions.

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In form Roy unfortunately cant continue further

England, of course, pipped New Zealand in the final on boundary countback alone while the two teams also faced off in this competition five years ago, when Roy’s 78 off 44 balls helped Morgan’s side prevail in the last-four clash. England came out to the Gulf without Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Sam Curran, while Mills has succumbed to a right thigh strain and Roy has now joined the casualty list with an injury that looked an immediate concern at Sharjah.

After being called through for a single, Roy took a couple of strides forward, hobbled the rest of the way, and then fell down in evident pain before being helped from the field, seemingly on the verge of tears as he retired hurt. He was seen on crutches after England’s 10-run loss to the Proteas – with Eoin Morgan’s side still qualifying for the semis as winners of their Super 12s group – plunging his participation in the rest of the tournament into doubt.

Roy has amassed 123 runs in five innings at a 30.75 average and strike-rate of 138.2 in a tournament where he and Jos Buttler have set the tone at the top of the order and England needs little reminding of his value to the team. While Vince has been parachuted into the 15-strong group, it may be that Sam Billings will come into the middle order, with one of Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, or Liam Livingstone opening alongside Buttler. An alternative is to bolster a bowling line-up that collected just two wickets and leaked 189 runs against South Africa. In that scenario, the left-arm seam of David Willey, also handy with the bat, presents a tempting option.