The franchise released a statement on the matter, stating, “England batter Joe Root will not be taking any further participation in the IPL, it was confirmed on Saturday.”
Root, a highly decorated international cricketer for England, entered the IPL scene last season when the Royals acquired him at the auction.Although he made his IPL debut in the 2023 edition, featuring in three matches for the franchise, his impact on the scoreboard was limited, with a score of 10 in the solitary inning he played.
Kumar Sangakkara, the director of cricket for the Royals, expressed, “During our retention conversations, Joe informed us of his decision to not take part in IPL 2024. Even in a short span of time, Joe was able to create such a positive impact on the franchise and the players around him. 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’s inclusion in the Royals’ squad provided invaluable depth and experience, benefiting several young players in the team such as Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. His camaraderie with fellow England teammate Jos Buttler and bonding with Yuzvendra Chahal added memorable moments to the former England Test skipper’s stint with the Royals.
Rajasthan Royals concluded the previous season at number five, securing seven wins and 14 points in 14 matches.
Joe Root boasts a T20 career record of 2,235 runs in 97 matches, maintaining an average of over 31, with 14 fifties in 87 innings.
(With inputs from ANI)