Rajasthan Royals invite West Indies stars Oshane Thomas and Evin Lewis for IPL 2021
The Rajasthan Royals have invited West Indies players Vin Lewis and Oshen Thomas for the remainder of the 2021 Indian Premier League season as replacements for Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes respectively.
Evin Lewis played two seasons in the IPL for Mumbai Indians in 2018 and 2019, scoring 430 runs from 16 games at 26.87. The 29-year-old made his debut for West Indies during their 2016 World T20 campaign in India, and has 1318 runs to his name in 45 T20Is, at a strike rate of 158.
Fast bowler Thomas, who is currently playing for the Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League, made his IPL debut for the Royals in 2019 and played 4 games but remained on the bench last season. Thomas made his international debut in 2018, has picked up 27 wickets in 20 ODIs, and 19 wickets in 17 T20Is.
“IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals today announced the final set of their replacement players. West Indian duo of Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas will be joining the Royals squad as replacement players for the remainder of IPL..,” the franchise said in a release.
England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler pulled out of IPL 2021 as he and his wife are expecting their second child this month. Buttler has also decided to skip the fourth Test against India because of the same reason.
All-rounder Stokes meanwhile, has taken an indefinite break from cricket to look after his mental health. Stokes had made himself unavailable for the five-Test series against India and was replaced by Craig Overton in England’s squad.
Stokes played RR’s opening game of IPL 2021 before being ruled out with a finger injury while Buttled played 7 games and scored 254 runs at 36.28 before the season was postponed due to the coronavirus crisis in India.
The remaining 31 games of IPL 2021 will be played in the United Arab Emirates from September 19. Rajasthan Royals will resume their campaign against the Punjab Kings on September 21 in Dubai.
