Jason Roy pulls out of IPL 2022

Jason Roy has pulled out of the forthcoming IPL 2022 for personal reasons. The England opener, who was signed by new franchise Gujarat Titans at his base price of INR 2 crore, stated the cricket in the pandemic enforced bio-bubbles had taken a toll on him over the last three years.

"It's with a heavy heart I have decided to pull out of this year's tournament," Roy posted on Instagram. "I want to thank the [Gujarat Titans] management and the captain Hardik [Pandya] for putting your faith in me and picking me in the auction. However, with everything going on in the world over the last 3 years it's added up and taken it's 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 their first year of the tournament.

"Thank you everyone for the continued support and I hope you can all respect and appreciate my decision."

Roy represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2021, coming in as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh. He had been signed by Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 before pulling out due to personal reasons. Since making his IPL debut in 2017 for the erstwhile Gujarat Lions, Roy has played only 13 games in the competition scoring 329 runs at an average of 29.91.

Roy was in fine form at the just-concluded Pakistan Super League, top-scoring for Quetta Gladiators with 303 runs at a strike-rate of 170.22. Participating in the IPL would have meant another two months in the confines of a bio-bubble. Gujarat Titans will confirm a replacement player in due course.