Andrew Tye pulls out for the remainder of the season
This will be Shamsi’s second stint in the IPL. He had played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2016, again as a replacement player, and taken three wickets in four games at an economy rate of 9.18. Overall, Shamsi has played 163 T20 games, taking 183 wickets at an average of 22.42 and an economy rate of 7.18. In the recently concluded Hundred, he took seven wickets in six games for Oval Invincibles, at an economy rate of 8.71. He will join a strong wrist-spin contingent in the Royals squad that includes legspinners Shreyas Gopal, Mayank Markande and Rahul Tewatia, alongside Riyan Parag. They also have the mystery spin of KC Cariappa to call on.
They also have several fast-bowling options despite Tye pulling out, with Morris and Mustafizur complemented by the Indian contingent of Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya, Kartik Tyagi, Akash Singh and Kuldip Yadav.
Tye said being away from home for long periods and not making it to Australia’s T20 World Cup squad were the factors behind his withdrawal.
“It is with great regret that I have to pull out of the remainder of the IPL 2021 with the Rajasthan Royals,” Tye said in a statement released by the franchise. “It has been a long year for me which has kept me away from home for a lengthy period, and the disappointment of not making it to the World Cup squad has added to the dismay. Therefore, keeping my best interests in mind, I had to make this tough decision of staying at home and preparing myself mentally and physically for next year’s T20 World Cup. I am gutted that I won’t be able to rejoin the Royals family this year, but like all the fans out there, I will be cheering the team on.”
Royal Challengers have completed their set of overseas players with the signing of George Garton, the Sussex left-arm quick bowler who can also bat a bit. Garton will replace Australia’s Kane Richardson, who had withdrawn. For Garton, 24, this will be his first IPL season.
Garton has played 38 T20 matches, taking 44 wickets at 20.06, with an economy rate of 8.26 so far. He has a batting average of 20.77 in the format, at a strike rate of 124.66. In the Hundred, playing for Southern Brave, Garton took ten wickets from nine games at an average of 23.00 at an economy rate of 8.90.
Sussex confirmed that Garton would join Royal Challengers after the Sussex Sharks’ appearance at the Vitality Blast Finals Day on September 18. The Royal Challengers’ first game in the second half of the IPL is on September 20, against Kolkata Knight Riders.