IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans likely to replace Jason Roy with THIS player

Jason Roy had pulled out of the IPL 2022 as he didn't want to stay in the bubble for a prolonged period.

File image (Source: Twitter)

Gujarat Titans will in all likelihood be replacing Jason Roy with Rahmamullah Gurbaz, the hard-hitting Afghan opener, for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2022).

Roy had pulled out of the IPL as he didn't want to stay in the bubble for a prolonged period.

Apart from having a 150-plus career T20 strike rate as an opener, Gurbaz is also a handy keeper which makes 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 career T20 games.

Some call it a schedule, we call it a Hit List! 

Mark your #GujaratTitans pic.twitter.com/FTGifl5qUY — Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 6, 2022

He has played 9 ODIs and 12 T20Is in his short but exciting career so far.

Gujarat Titans are yet to officially announce Gurbaz as a replacement as they await the BCCI green light. But, it is understood that the team think-tank has taken extensive inputs from premier spinner Rashid Khan, who has also been Gurbaz's senior in the national team.

Gurbaz's entry could also solve another issue for Titans and that's the keeping crisis.

Matthew Wade will only be available in the second week of IPL and the only other keeper in the roster is Wriddhiman Saha, whom they may be compelled to play despite not such great T20 record in recent times.

Gurbaz's entry might lessen the worry of head coach Ashish Nehra and captain Hardik Pandya.

Gurbaz has been a sought-after name in franchise cricket having played for Multan Sultans and Islamabad United in Pakistan Super League, Kandy Tuskers in Lanka Premier League, and Khulna Tigers in Bangladesh Premier League.

Gujarat Titans squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Abhinav Sadarangani, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Pradeep Sangwan, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Gurkeerat Singh, Varun Aaron, B Sai Sudarshan.