"Couldn't Offer Best Version Of Myself": Rajasthan Royals Star On Opting Out Of IPL 2024

Australia's star spinner, Adam Zampa pointed out "several reasons" for opting out of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Zampa was due to join the Rajasthan Royals (RR) but decided to opt out of the cash-rich competition on the eve of the season opener. He was a crucial figure in Australia's World Cup 2023 triumph. He produced match-winning performances for the six-time champions while battling through injuries. Zampa featured in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades and made eight appearances. He then went on to take part in Australia's white-ball series against the West Indies and New Zealand.

The 32-year-old revealed that he was "completely drained" after the conclusion of the ODI World Cup and felt he couldn't offer RR the best version of himself.

"There are several reasons why the IPL wasn't for me this year. I think the most important one was the fact that it's a World Cup year and I'm completely drained from 2023. I did the full IPL last year. Obviously, the World Cup was three months in India as well," Zampa told the Willow Talk podcast as quoted from cricket.com.au.

"So I had the best intentions of trying to play the IPL again this year. But once push came to shove, I felt like I just couldn't really offer the Rajasthan Royals the best version of myself and looking forward to the World Cup, that's what's more important to me, that's for sure," he added.

In IPL 2023, Zampa made six appearances for RR and clinched eight wickets. With RR already enjoying the services of star Indian spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin, Zampa wasn't sure about the game time he would get in the long campaign.

"It came down to my decision being I probably need to put my body and my mental