England batter Joe Root, who had made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year, has opted out of IPL 2024 just a day before the retention deadline, according to a statement on Royals’ website. Royals’ director of cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, said Root’s “positive impact” and “energy around the group” would be missed and the team “respects his decision totally.” Root, who played three games for the Royals in IPL 2023, was praised for bringing “plenty of depth and experience” as well as for bonding with teammates like Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal. This makes Root the second England player after Ben Stokes to pull out of the next season of the IPL. The retention deadline is November 26, and Royals have already made moves in the trade window, letting go of Devdutt Padikkal but bringing in Avesh Khan from Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, India allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed will be representing Sunrisers Hyderabad next season after his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore traded him for bowling allrounder Mayank Dagar.
