Rajasthan Royals will not be signing South Africa all-rounder Rassie van der Dussen for the remainder of the IPL 2021.
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Rajasthan Royals will not be signing South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). The 32-year-old was expected to join the franchise as a replacement for Ben Stokes. However, an injury has seen Cricket South Africa (CSA) deny him a no-objection certificate (NOC) for participation in IPL 2021.
He had obtained a visa to fly out to India but will not partake in this year’s tournament. This serves as another big blow for the Royals, who have dealt with bad luck aplenty this year.
Following the absence of Stokes, Jofra Archer, Andrew Tye and Liam Livingstone were also ruled out of the tournament.
Archer was out of the tournament due to an elbow problem. Liam Livingstone withdrew due to bio-bubble fatigue. Tye cited coronavirus issues.
Van der Dussen was in fine form in the recent series against Pakistan played during the IPL. He smashed 123 and 60 in the two ODIs and 34, 52 in the two Twenty20 Internationals.
In fact, in his last seven T20I innings, he has managed double-digit scores consistently. Ever since the series against Australia, van der Dussen has had scores of 37,24,37,25,74,34* and 52.
Overall, van der Dussen has an average of 41 with four fifties and a strike rate of 138.
As of this writing, RR have only five overseas players in their squad. Jos Buttler, David Miller, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman and Gerald Coetzee.
Coetzee, a 20-year-old pacer from South Africa, joins as a replacement for Livingstone. Coetzee has played eight T20 matches so far and has accounted for nine wickets at an average of 23.33 in the format. The 20-year-old has represented his country in two under-19 World Cups.
Allan Donald, the former Proteas fast bowler, was all praise for Coetzee, predicting success. “There is no question in my mind that Gerald Coetzee will be in that (senior) South African side or part of that group fairly shortly.”
The Royals are currently placed on the seventh position in the league standings, having won two matches out of a total of six. RR have accumulated four points at a net run rate of -0.690.
