The Gujarat Titans are likely to replace Jason Roy with the tough Afghan opener Rahmamullah Gurbaz for the upcoming Indian Premier League.
IPL 2022: Afghanistan opener Rahmamullah Gurbaz likely to replace Jason Roy at the Gujarat Titans (Twitter Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Rahmamullah Gurbaz is likely to replace Jason Roy ahead of IPL
- Gujarat Titans are yet to officially announce Gurbaz as a replacement
- Gurbaz has played 9 ODIs and 12 T20Is in his short but exciting career
The Gujarat Titans are likely to replace England opener Jason Roy with Afghanistan’s hard-hitting opening batsman Rahmamullah Gurbaz ahead of the upcoming 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). Roy had pulled out of the IPL as he didn’t want to stay in the bubble for an extended period of time.
Aside from a career T20 batting average of over 150 as a starter, Gurbaz is also a handy goaltender, making him a multi-utility player. The most exciting aspect is the 20-year-old’s ability to clear the ropes with 113 sixes in 69 T20 career games.
He has played 9 ODIs and 12 T20Is in his short but exciting career.
The Gujarat Titans are yet to officially announce Gurbaz as a replacement as they await the BCCI’s green light. But it is understood that the team think-tank has had extensive input from premier spinner Rashid Khan, who was also Gurbaz’s senior with the national team.
Gurbaz’s entry could also solve another problem for the Titans and that is the holding crisis.
Matthew Wade won’t be available until week two of the IPL and the only other goalkeeper in the squad is Wriddhiman Saha, who they may have to play against despite not having that great T20 record lately.
Gurbaz’s entry could ease concerns for head coach Ashish Nehra and captain Hardik Pandya.
Gurbaz is a sought-after name in franchise cricket, having played for Multan Sultans and Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, Kandy Tuskers in the Lanka Premier League and Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League.
