Jason Roy pulling out of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 shocked the new franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) fans. Roy took the decision just few weeks before the 10-team tournament. A day after the big decision, the English opener has explained why he took this step.
“Hi everyone, especially the Gujarat Titans fans and squad. It's with a heavy heart I have decided to pull out of this year's tournament. I want to thank the management and the captain Hardik for putting your faith in me and picking me in the auction,” Roy wrote in a letter posted on his Twitter account.
Roy recently featured in the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022. Earlier he was picked in the IPL mega auction for his base price of Rs 2 crore. Had Roy not pulled of the tournament, he was likely to be in the first XI of Hardik Pandya-led franchise. On the other hand, the franchise is yet to announce his replacement for its maiden IPL season.
“However, with everything going in the world over last three years it's added up and taken its toll on me. I feel it's only right I spend some quality time with my family. As well as spending time working on myself and my game over the next couple of months leading into a very busy year. I will be following each game of the Titans and backing them to lift the trophy in the first year of the tournament,” the 31-year-old further added.
“Thank you everyone for the continued support and I hope you can all respect and appreciate my decision,” he concluded.
Roy has featured in three IPL seasons so far and played just 13 games. He made a comeback in the tournament last year as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have him a few matches after the David Warner fiasco.
He scored 150 runs from five games including one half-century. Overall, he has scored 329 runs from 13 matches at an average of 29.90 including a couple of half centuries.