In preparation for IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have designated Phil Salt as the substitute for Jason Roy, who withdrew from the season due to personal reasons. Roy’s departure is a significant setback for the team, which had high expectations for him in the upcoming IPL. In Phil Salt, KKR gains a replacement with a formidable track record, having scored consecutive centuries against West Indies in a T20I series last December. With both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Salt himself available as overseas keeper-batters, KKR now has options to address their opening combination issues from the past two seasons.
Kolkata Knight Riders have enlisted Phil Salt as the replacement for Jason Roy, who withdrew from the upcoming TATA IPL 2024 due to personal reasons. Despite going unsold in the auction after representing Delhi Capitals last year, this marks Salt’s second season in the IPL. Acquired at his reserve price of INR 1.5 crore, the dynamic English wicket-keeper batter showcased his prowess with two consecutive T20I centuries against the West Indies in December of the previous year. The IPL statement highlighted his exceptional achievement of a 48-ball century in the 4th T20I at Trinidad, which stands as the joint-fastest for England.
KKR chose to retain Jason Roy for the IPL 2024 auction after his notable performance last year, amassing 285 runs in 8 matches at an average of 35.63 with two fifties and a strike rate of 151.60.
Phil Salt steps in as a competent replacement for his fellow England teammate, securing a spot in the KKR lineup. Despite being bought by Delhi Capitals at his base price of 1.5 crores in IPL 2023 and scoring 218 runs at a strike rate of 163.91, Salt was released by Delhi Capitals, providing KKR with an opportunity to sign him.
In response to England pacer Gus Atkinson’s withdrawal from IPL 2024 due to workload management concerns raised by the ECB, KKR named Dushmantha Chameera as his replacement. Atkinson, who was part of the squad for the Test series in India but didn’t play, prompted KKR to secure the services of Chameera, who brings IPL experience with 12 matches, nine wickets, and an economy rate of 8.73. Mitchell Starc remains the sole overseas frontline quick in the Knight Riders’ squad, alongside Chameera.
Currently representing the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, Jason Roy has accumulated 231 runs in seven matches with an average of 33.00 and a strike rate of 149.03. His ongoing participation in the PSL sheds light on the challenges he faces in securing a spot in the IPL auctions over the years, a situation primarily attributed to his intermittent availability.
In IPL 2023, Roy became a part of KKR, stepping in as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan, who withdrew from the tournament due to personal reasons.
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