'When you need a shoe and you buy a shirt'- Twitter unsure as Kolkata announce Jason Roy as replacement for Shakib Al Hasan for ITL 2023

Kolkata have signed up England opener Jason Roy for Rs 2.8 crore for the Indian T20 League 2023 season, adding firepower to their top order. Roy, who had earlier played for Gujarat in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, last featured in the ITL in 2021, playing five games for Hyderabad and scoring 150 runs, including a half-century.

With Kolkata captain Shreyas Iyer ruled out of the tournament due to a lower-back injury and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan pulling out of the league, Roy's inclusion adds depth to Kolkata's batting line-up. The 32-year-old right-handed batsman has played 64 T20Is for England, scoring 1522 runs at a strike rate of 137.61, including eight fifties.

Roy's aggressive style of batting is tailor-made for the ITL, where he can take on the opposition's bowlers right from the start. His partnership with fellow opener Shubman Gill could prove to be a formidable one for Kolkata.

Roy's signing comes as a timely boost for Kolkata, who had a disappointing start to their ITL 2023 campaign, losing their opening match to Punjab in Mohali. With Nitish Rana taking over as captain following Iyer's injury, Kolkata will be looking to bounce back strongly in their next match against Bangalore at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on Thursday.

Roy's experience of playing in the ITL, coupled with his impressive record in T20Is and ODIs, makes him a valuable addition to Kolkata's squad. His ability to score quickly and take the game away from the opposition makes him a potent weapon in Kolkata's armoury.

The absence of Shakib al Hasan, who informed Kolkata of his unavailability due to international commitments and personal issues, will be felt by the team. However, Kolkata will be hoping that the return of Litton Das, who is part of the national squad taking part in the ongoing one-off Test against Ireland, will provide them with the much-needed boost.