IPL 2023: Jason Roy to join KKR to Replace Shakib Al-Hasan
Pubnews: IPL 2023: Jason Roy to join KKR, The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed England opener Jason Roy from Mercure ahead of IPL 2023. The decision comes after KKR management requested that Shakib Al-Hasan withdraw from the tournament, leading to rumors of a potential replacement. Before Shakib’s withdrawal, the Knights had made internal changes, and Roy had started “following” KKR on Instagram.
KKR had multiple reasons behind taking Roy, as their top order has weakened in the absence of Shreyash Iyer. Roy is a big name and has been in great form recently, including his performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). While his base price in the auction was 1.5 crore rupees, KKR had to spend 2.8 crores to secure his services.
Previously, Dashun Sanaka’s name had been heard as a potential replacement for Shakib, but he has already been picked up by Gujarat Titans as Williamson’s replacement. With Roy now in the mix, the Knights’ top-order problems could be solved to some extent. The English batsman will likely come to India before the third match on April 9.
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The addition of Roy to the KKR squad could prove to be a game-changer, as he brings a wealth of experience and skill to the team. The 31-year-old is a powerful striker of the ball and has been a consistent performer for England in limited-overs cricket. He was a vital cog in England’s World Cup-winning squad in 2019, where he was their second-highest run-scorer.
Roy has also been in tremendous form in T20 cricket in recent years. In the 2021 edition of the PSL, he scored 231 runs at an average of 46.20 and a strike rate of 149.35. His exploits in the T20 Blast, where he has scored over 5000 runs at an average of 32.59 and a strike rate of 146.66, have also been impressive.
For KKR, Roy’s arrival could help address their issues at the top of the order. In the absence of Iyer, KKR’s batting has looked fragile, and they have struggled to get off to good starts. Roy could potentially open the batting alongside Nitish Rana, giving KKR a formidable opening pair that can take the attack to the opposition.
Moreover, Roy’s presence could also allow KKR to play Andre Russell in the middle order. Russell has been a vital cog in KKR’s setup over the years, but he has often been pushed up the order due to the team’s top-order struggles. With Roy and Rana opening the batting, KKR could potentially play Russell at number 5 or 6, where he can have a greater impact on the game.
Roy’s addition could also potentially allow KKR to experiment with its team composition. With the likes of Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, and Shakib Al-Hasan already in the squad, KKR has a wealth of options in the middle order. Roy’s presence at the top of the order could potentially allow them to play an extra bowler, which could be crucial in the spin-friendly conditions in India.
In conclusion, KKR’s decision to sign Jason Roy could prove to be a masterstroke. The English opener brings a wealth of experience and skill to the team, and his arrival could help address some of the team’s batting woes. With Roy likely to open the batting alongside Nitish Rana, KKR could potentially have a formidable opening pair that can take the attack to the opposition. Additionally, Roy’s presence could allow KKR to experiment with their team composition and play an extra bowler, which could be crucial in the upcoming match.
