Big Blow For Rajasthan Royals: Foreign Star Pulls Out Of IPL 2024 Citing Personal Reason

Rajasthan Royals were on Thursday dealt a big blow when leg-spinner Adam Zampa pulled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) citing personal reasons. Zampa, who was retained by Rajasthan Royals ahead of last year's auction for Rs 1.5 crore, has withdrawn his name following a busy season for Australia. Zampa's manager confirmed the development to ESPNCricinfo. The right-arm spinner was a part of Rajasthan's troika of spinners including India's Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. He played six matches last season for the 2008 winners, claiming eight wickets at 23.50 including 3/22 in Rajasthan Royals' win against Chennai Super Kings.

Zampa's withdrawal depletes Rajasthan's bowling attack further since they are already without fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who underwent surgery on his left proximal quadriceps tendon late in February and was subsequently ruled out of this year's IPL.

Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad replaced MS Dhoni as the skipper of Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2024.

The announcement came after Gaikwad attended the captains' meeting ahead of this year's competition in Chennai on Thursday.

MS Dhoni was the captain of CSK since the inaugural season of IPL and he has won the title five times - the joint-most by any skipper alongside Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma.

Gaikwad, who has played six ODIs and 19 T20s for India, made his CSK debut in 2020 and has gone on to represent the five time IPL champions in 52 games. The right-handed opener had a memorable run last year, aggregating 590 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 147.50.