Rajasthan Royals (RR) are one of the worst-hit franchises in terms of losing players to injury or bio-bubble concerns. They have lost four of their overseas players, two to injury and two to bubble fatigue so far.
Jofra Archer didn’t come to India to join RR for IPL 2021 after having surgery on his finger, while Ben Stokes broke his finger and was ruled out of the entire tournament. On the other hand, Liam Livingstone and Andrew Tye flew back home citing bio-bubble fatigue and concerns about the rising COVID-19 cases in India.
This has led the Sanju Samson-led franchise to write to other Indian Premier League franchises seeking player loans since the IPL loan window has opened.
They are left with only four overseas players in Jos Buttler, Chris Morris, David Miller, and Mustafizur Rahman, and are in need of urgent reinforcements what with more than 60 percent of games to be played in the campaign.
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As per the IPL playing conditions, "the loan Window will start at 9 am IST on the day following the 20th league match scheduled for the season and will end at noon IST on the day following the 56th league match scheduled for the season."
It means the window got activated at 9 am on Monday (April 26) after the doubleheader on Sunday night.
"We have received a request from them a couple of days ago and we have not decided on it. The team management will take a call,” confirmed a CEO from a southern-based franchise to Cricbuzz.
"We will consider if we can loan them a player or two from our surpluses," said another CEO.
According to the IPL rules, a player who has, at the start of the loan period, played (either in the Playing XI or as a Concussion Replacement) less than two matches during the season can be loaned.
Of course, he can be loaned in a season only once, it has to be for the entire remainder of the league, and cannot play against his home franchise.
For the record, "each franchisee may loan no more than three of its players to the same franchisee during the season."
The consent of the player is mandatory.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
