Gujarat Titans rope in Rahmanullah Gurbaz as replacement for Jason Roy

Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been named as a replacement for Jason Roy. Gujarat Titans made an announcement through their social media. The replacement was not exactly what team management hoped for the upcoming season. Gujarat Titans roped in Rahmanullah Gurbaz after Jason Roy pulled out of the 2022 Indian Premier League due to bio-bubble fatigue.

They wanted to have a reserve keeper due to current fiasco surrounding Wriddhiman Saha. Former Indian wicket-keeper Saha is the first-choice keeper for Gujarat Titans. The team management wanted someone as back-up if in case Saha is not available for Titans for the coming Indian Premier League season.

Australia’s Matthew Wade is another wicket-keeper picked by Gujarat Titans in their ranks. Cricket Australia (CA) have already made it clear that contracted players will not participate in the Indian Premier League before 6^th April. The new franchise Gujarat Titans will play their first game against Lucknow Super Giants on 28^th March.

Since making his debut for Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz played nine one-day internationals and twenty T20Is. He had set a base price of Rs 50 lakh but remained unsold in the recently concluded two-day IPL Auction. On 9^th March, BCCI confirmed that Gujarat Titans has bought Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a replacement for Jason Roy for the 15^th edition of the IPL.

He will joining his national team colleagues Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan for the coming IPL season. Gurbaz became fifth Afghanistan player to participate in the league besides Mohammad Nabi (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (Sunrisers Hyderabad).

Citing bio-bubble fatigue, swashbuckling opener Jason Roy has been withdraw himself from Indian Premier League. During IPL auction, Roy was bought for a base price of Rs 2 crore. With overseas players going for last minute withdrawal, BCCI has clearly said that valid reasons be stated for the skipping the Indian Premier League.