Recently, Jason Roy had announced missing IPL 2022. This has created much buzz on the internet, as this decision came after the auction has taken place. Roy was roped by Gujarat Titans, the new franchise this year at his base price of 2 crores INR. Fans started to look for his replacement, as the decision left a place vacant in the team squad. If we believe the reports, Jason Roy can be replaced by Suresh Raina in Gujarat Titans. Mr. IPL Suresh Raina is been heavily considered as the replacement. It left fans shocked as Raina went unsold in IPL Mega Auction 2022. However, even Chennai Super Kings didn’t attempt to have him on their squad. Although, Suresh Raina has contributed heavily to CSK in the previous seasons.
The English batter, Jason Roy has decided to pull off the 15th edition of IPL. Earlier, Gujarat Titans roped him for 2 crores INR. The reason sighted was the challenge that living in a bio-bubble environment, as it impacts the players emotionally as well as physically. Not just for IPL, but any tournament or bilateral series’ that take place since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, is conducted in a bio-secure environment. Wherein, players need to isolate themselves, follow numerous covid-19 precautions, and routinely go through RT-PCR tests. Because Jason Roy has recently become a father again, as his second child was born in January. Thus, staying in a bio-bubble, isolated environment would keep him away from his family. This is not just the first time, Roy has earlier opted out of IPL 2020 citing personal reasons.
Also read: Suresh Raina Net Worth, Salary, Charity, Endorsements
Jason Roy replaced by Suresh Raina
As the news of Jason Roy opting out of IPL came out, fans were intrigued to know who will replace Roy in the GT squad. There have been several speculations, but the widely agreed one is Suresh Raina as the replacement. It was shocking for fans to see Raina going unsold in the auction, this year. Raina has played for CSK from 2008 till 2021. However, for the 2016 and 2017 editions of the tournament, he captained Gujarat Lions, since CSK missed the seasons. In 2021, Raina missed the majority of IPL, because of personal reasons. He managed to score 160 runs in 12 matches.
He is widely referred to as Mr. IPL for his exceptional performances. He was the first player ever to score 5000 runs in IPL. He still ranks 4th on the list of highest run-getters with 5528 runs. Suresh Raina has played 205 matches, scoring 5528 runs, scoring 39 half-tons. Moreover, the record of most runs by any player in the powerplay in IPL is also to Suresh Raina’s name. In addition, the highest number of catches (107) in IPL is to Raina’s credit. Also, he is the only Indian to hit more than 100 sixes in the tournament. The southpaw is often regarded as one of India’s finest T20 players. He is also the first Indian to score centuries in all three formats of the game.
