Former England captain Joe Root has registered for the next IPL 2023 mini-auction, which will be held on December 23 in Kochi. It’s the second time in his career that he’s expressed interest in the lucrative tournament. He was on the auction block in 2018 but couldn’t find a bidder.
According to an ESPN Cricinfo article, Root is well aware that he may suffer the same fate and go unsold. He has no salary or franchise aspirations simply because he wants to experience the world’s greatest T20 league.
Several international commitments, as well as a five-year stint as England’s Test captain, have precluded him from participating in the shortest format. He last appeared in a game against Pakistan in May 2019, scoring a 42-ball 47.
He played for the Sydney Thunder of the Big Bash League (BBL) in the 2018-19 season, which was his sole experience in domestic T20 tournaments other than T20 Blast and The Hundred.
The presence of English support staff in the IPL could assist Root break into the league. Andy Flower, the head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants, had worked closely with Root during his time with the England cricket team. Former England head coach Trevor Bayliss was been chosen coach of the Punjab Kings, another notable English participant in the tournament.
Root told the Mail on Sunday that participating in the IPL might help him close the gaps that kept him away from the action in the quickest time possible. A small taste of playing on Indian soil will also be beneficial ahead of the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
“I have no plans or feelings of retiring, slowing down, or playing in fewer formats.” If anything, I feel a little more liberated with my time. “I used to get rested for T20s, and I feel like I became estranged from the format because I hadn’t played enough of it,” Root explained.
“You may feel as if you are falling behind a little bit. “The next couple of years might be a good time for me to experiment with that format and see how far I can push that aspect of my game,” he continued.
Joe Root has only played 11 T20Is since the start of 2021. He is now in Dubai, preparing for the forthcoming Pakistan Tests, which begin on December 1. He may play in the ODIs against South Africa and Bangladesh next year, but he will undoubtedly be available for the majority of the IPL season.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.