"Can't wait to see him open" - Fans erupt as KKR sign Jason Roy for IPL 2023
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed England's swashbuckling opener Jason Roy after Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan bowed out of IPL 2023 due to international commitments and personal reasons.
The Kolkata-based franchise bought Roy for Rs 2.8 crore, more than his base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
So far, the 32-year-old has represented the now-defunct Gujarat Lions (2017), Delhi Daredevils (2018-19), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (2021) in the Indian Premier League. The right-hander, however, didnβt get enough opportunities in his previous stints, scoring just 150 runs in five games during IPL 2021, which includes a half-century.
Roy, though, enjoys a brilliant track record in T20s, having had the experience of playing in the Big Bash League (BBL), The Hundred, SA20, Pakistan Super League (PSL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The right-hander has played 313 T20s, scoring 8,110 runs at a decent strike rate of 141.90, which includes six centuries and 53 fifties.
NEWS 
#TATAIPLπ¨ NEWS π¨
@KKRiders sign Jason Roy.
Details π½ #TATAIPL
iplt20.com/news/3877/kolkβ¦
Fans were delighted to see KKR sign Roy for IPL 2023. One tweeted:
"Finally Jason Roy in KKR. Can't wait to see him open."
Finally Jason Roy in KKRπ₯Ίπ
Can't wait to see him open π₯
#KKR
Here are some of the other best Twitter reactions:
Like the signing of Jason Roy. An explosive batter, an international star at the top, something KKR desperately needed. #IPL2023 #KKR
Welcome to the #GalaxyOfKnights @JasonRoy20 ππ
We hope for a long and successful journey with you. πππ
#KKR #AmiKKR #JasonRoy #IPL2023 @KKRiders
I hope Jason roy shines for KKR. Expecting a cracking season for him π€
#KKR
JASON ROY
THE GREATEST THERE WAS. THE GREATEST THERE IS. THE GREATEST THERE EVER WILL BE.
Jason Roy is the new Aaron Finch.
5th IPL team, hope he gets to 8 by the end of his career.
for us@KRxtra The big question is will jason roy be available for tomorrow's match? If not what if gurbaz scores big in tomorrow's match.. it'll be a tricky situation π² for us
Fantastic move from @KKRiders on signing Jason Roy β
KKR signs Jason Roy. Boy oh boy what a signing.
Make Gurbaz And Jason Roy For Opening combo πΎπ₯
How about giving captaincy for Jason Roy?
The England batter smashed 145 off 63 balls for Quetta Gladiators against Peshawar Zalmi in the recently concluded PSL 2023. Prior to that, he struck 132 off 124 balls in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh last month.
Roy is likely to strengthen KKRβs batting unit in the absence of regular captain Shreyas Iyer, who is recovering from a recurring back injury since December last year. He recently underwent surgery which will keep him off the field for at least three months.
In the absence of Iyer, Nitish Rana is leading KKR in IPL 2023.
Full list of KKR players for IPL 2023 ft. Jason Roy
Kolkata Knight Riders squad: Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson (hamstring injury), Shreyas Iyer (back injury), Jason Roy.
KKR lost their opening IPL 2023 game against the Punjab Kings by seven runs via the DLS method. They will look to register their first win of this season against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as they return to their den (Eden Gardens in Kolkata) on Thursday, April 6.