England batsman Joe Root has decided to withdraw from the Indian Premier League (IPL) scheduled for the next year, following the lead of his fellow red-ball captain, Ben Stokes, who had previously announced his non-participation in the high-profile Twenty20 tournament.
Root, who had made his IPL debut with the Rajasthan Royals earlier in the year, made this decision just before the deadline for franchises to declare player releases and retentions ahead of the auction on December 19.
The Rajasthan Royals expressed their acknowledgment of Root’s choice, stating on their website, “Joe was able to create such a positive impact on the franchise and the players around him.” Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals’ director of cricket, acknowledged Root’s short but impactful stint, saying, “His energy around the group and the experience he brought to the Royals will be missed. We respect his decision totally and wish him success in everything he does.”
Root is the second English player to opt out of the IPL, with Stokes having withdrawn the previous week to manage his workload and maintain fitness.
Root, who was signed by the Royals for $121,000 at the IPL auction, played three games in the previous season but only batted in one, scoring 10 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur.
Despite being the most popular and lucrative T20 league globally, the IPL’s demanding schedule raises concerns about potential player injuries, fatigue, and burnout amid the growing international cricket calendar.
Zavisa Identifies Factors Behind The Disappointing Performance Of Football Team
Meanwhile, Zavisa Milosavljevic, former head coach of the Pakistan football team, identified various factors contributing to the team’s poor performance in the recent FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan. In an exclusive interview from Serbia, Zavisa emphasized the need for a robust competition system in Pakistan, particularly in the Premier League and second-tier leagues, to build a core group of local players.
