Jason Roy has shed light on his decision to miss the ongoing IPL 2024 season, citing the need to prioritize his mental and physical wellbeing.
Why KKR’s Jason Roy skipped IPL 2024?
The England opener, who joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last year as an injury replacement, opted out this season despite a decent performance in 2023. Jason Roy explained that a packed schedule in the latter half of the winter cricket season left him feeling drained.
He highlighted his desire to spend quality time with his family, particularly for his daughter’s fifth birthday which clashed with the start of the IPL.
“Missing this year’s IPL was a huge decision, I think,” Jaosn Roy said on The Athlete’s Voice podcast. “KKR put so much trust in me by retaining me after a decent year last year and being available for them throughout the year and all the other competitions, you know, I felt like I owe them a huge amount. It was a very big decision, but a decision I came to just because it was my daughter’s fifth birthday as soon as our first game was, there were a few things going on, I was quite tired after the start of my year.”
“I’ve come off the back of not a huge amount of cricket, so the last couple of months have really taken it out of me. And so I was very honest to KKR and we’ve got a fantastic relationship, so we were able to come to an agreement and stuff like that on why I wasn’t coming. They completely understood so I’m very grateful to them for that. But I just had to put myself first, you know, just mindset and body.”
Jason Roy open about Mental Health
Jason Roy’s decision is particularly poignant given his past struggles with mental health. In 2022, he took an indefinite break from cricket and missed the IPL due to mental health concerns. This experience has shaped his approach to prioritizing his well-being.
“A couple of years ago, I went through an extremely bad patch with my mindset,” Roy revealed. He acknowledged pushing himself too hard and neglecting his mental health, leading to a negative spiral.
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Learning from Past: Jason Roy
Roy emphasized the importance of listening to his body and mind. He stressed that his decision was not a reflection on the IPL or KKR, but a necessary step for his overall health.
“This year, I said to myself I’m going to listen to my head and heart,” Roy stated. He highlighted the value of learning from past experiences, allowing him to make choices that prioritize his well-being.
Balancing Cricket with Personal Life
Roy’s decision to prioritize his family and mental health showcases the challenges faced by modern cricketers balancing a demanding schedule with personal lives. His openness about his struggles is a positive step towards normalizing mental health conversations in cricket.
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