England batsman Jason Roy has decided to skip the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 due to family reasons, taking a break after being on the road since the beginning of the year. The 33-year-old, who is a crucial part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise, expressed the need to spend quality time with his family. Although Roy won’t be participating, he conveyed his support to KKR, expressing well-wishes for their campaign.
“After much consideration, I have made the tough decision to miss this year’s IPL. Having been away since the start of January, I need to get back to my family and have a refresh before a very busy year ahead. I will be supporting my friends and teammates at KKR throughout the tournament and wish them the best of luck,” said Jason Roy in a statement.
You’ll be missed Jason. But we understand 💜 pic.twitter.com/wrAdafC08G
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 11, 2024
Roy, who played for the Paarl Royals in the ILT20 and is currently featuring for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), plans to return to England after the conclusion of PSL to spend quality time with his family.
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Although he won’t be on the field, he pledged his support to Kolkata and expressed hope for their success in the 17th edition of the IPL. In response to Roy’s absence, KKR swiftly signed dynamic England batsman Phil Salt as his replacement.
The 27-year-old, known for his aggressive batting, recently scored two consecutive centuries against West Indies, contributing significantly to England’s series win. Salt was part of the Delhi Capitals in 2023 but went unsold in the auction. KKR acquired him for his base price of INR 1.5 crore after Roy withdrew.
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The majority of Indian players in the KKR squad have initiated their practice sessions in Mumbai and will shift to Kolkata after the conclusion of the Ranji Trophy final. Star all-rounder Andre Russell is expected to join the team early next week. KKR is scheduled to kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the iconic Eden Gardens.
