Swashbuckling English opener Jason Roy has pulled out of Indian Premier League citing bubble fatigue, reported ESPNcricinfo late on Monday evening, 28 February.
According to the report, Roy communicated his decision to his team Gujarat Titans earlier last week, however, the franchise has not chosen to name a replacement just yet. Roy, who was in excellent form in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League is one of the most sought after players in the shorter formats of the game, for his ability to pick apart any opposition in the first six overs.
Now that Titans do not have Roy’s service, they are in a little pickle, considering their depth in the top order. Shubman Gill is fixed in one spot and the other might be taken by Matthew Wade unless the team chooses another player. Wade is not at all a bad option considering his ability to play all around the park, but is a very different batter than Roy, and lacks the explosiveness the Englishman provides.
The availability of English cricketers has been an issue this season, with several players pulling out of the tournament in the aftermath of the Ashes series. However, for Roy, it was the extended period of bubble that turned out to be the reason, which might be an issue for several others as well considering that this is a World Cup year and players might like to spend more time with their family before going into an extended bio-bubble programme in Australia - a country that has put strict conditions on visiting parties.
The Indian Premier League is not new to bubble pull-outs. Last year, several players left the cash-rich league midway through the tournament during the rise of the second wave of the pandemic. Australians in particular had a harrowing experience with the government choosing to close off their borders without making ample arrangements for their citizens staying overseas.