Sunrisers Hyderabad bring in Jason Roy as Mitchell Marsh's replacement
Mitchell Marsh has pulled out of the Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL 2021 campaign because of "personal reasons"*. As reported by Cricday earlier in the day, the Sunrisers have drafted in England opener Jason Roy as Marsh's replacement, acquiring him at his base price of INR 2 crore.
Marsh, last in action in Australia's T20I series in New Zealand in the first week of March, is understood to have been worried about the seven-day quarantine followed by the long stretch in biosecure bubbles - like everyone else - for the duration of his team's presence in the competition.
Roy, who had opted out of the Delhi Capitals' campaign in IPL 2020 because of personal reasons - and had been replaced in the team by Australian pace bowler Daniel Sams - was released by the franchise ahead of the 2021 auction. Most recently, turning out for England in the white-ball series in India, Roy showed good form, scoring 144 runs in five T20I innings - with a strike rate of 132.11 - and following it up with 115 runs in three ODI innings, striking at 123.65.
Having an extra option to open the batting could work well for the Sunrisers - who also have Kane Williamson in their ranks - because David Warner, their captain and one-half of a prolific opening pairing with Jonny Bairstow, might not be 100% after his struggles with a groin injury.
Warner conceded in early March that it had been a mistake to rush back from the injury to play in the Test series against India, and while he has since played for New South Wales without any apparent problems, he expects the problem to linger for most of the remainder of the year.
Marsh, who was bought by the Sunrisers for his base price of INR 2 crore in the 2020 auction, lasted just four balls in the team's season-opener against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Dubai before hurting his ankle. He batted at No. 10 in the chase and was dismissed for a first-ball duck, before leaving the competition.
Jason Holder was drafted in as his replacement and had a telling impact on the Sunrisers' fortunes, making useful contributions with the bat and picking up 14 wickets in seven games as they reached the playoffs of the competition.
* The article was updated following the IPL issuing a statement at 12.50pm GMT on March 31, 2021