Jason Roy was bitterly disappointed not to be playing for SRH: Kevin Pietersen

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen said that Jason Roy was utterly dejected on not getting chances for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. Back in March, SRH roped Roy in after Mitchell Marsh made himself unavailable for the entire season. During this while, the Orange Army used Kane Williamson, Wriddhiman Saha, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow as their openers.

However, Roy kept warming the bench. But after Warner failed in SRH’s first two games in the UAE leg of IPL 2021, the right-hander got his maiden chance in the match against Rajasthan Royals in Dubai. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring 60 off 42 with eight fours and one six. He also won the Player of the Match award after SRH won by seven wickets.

Prior to getting the chances, Roy was a tad disappointed, Pietersen said. For Roy, the IPL was a platform to prepare for the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup to be played in the UAE itself.

He is committed to training, says Kevin Pietersen

“For Jason Roy to replace him and make a half-century in his first match, though, was very pleasing. We see things happening out here that you guys don’t. Roy is committed to training, committed to the warm-up for every match and has thrown himself into IPL life,” Pietersen wrote in his blog for Betway Insider.

“I spoke to him after the first two games and he was bitterly disappointed not to be playing, but he just said: ‘Listen, I’m here, and this is great preparation for the T20 World Cup‘. He’d been practicing his backside off and now he’s got his chance, which is great news for Sunrisers and for England,” he added.

After his initial success, Roy has strained a wee bit. In the game against the Chennai Super Kings, Josh Hazlewood dismissed him for two off seven. Thereafter, Roy scored 10 runs off 13 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders before Shivam Mavi accounted for his wicket.

Roy’s next assignment is expected to be against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday, October 6 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Roy has been as key member of the England national team after their 2015 World Cup debacle.