Zampa also pulls out of IPL 2024 amidst top England players' absence

Rajasthan Royals suffered a significant setback on Thursday as leg-spinner Adam Zampa decided to withdraw from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) due to personal reasons.

Zampa, who was retained by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.5 crore before last year's auction, made the decision after a hectic season with the Australian team.

Furthermore, the absence of several top England players further adds to the challenges faced by IPL teams. Delhi Capitals' batsman Harry Brook will miss the tournament due to his grandmother's demise, while Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Jason Roy are managing their workload concerns. Furthermore, the decision of Ben Stokes and Joe Root to skip the player auction in December has deprived the IPL of more star power.

Meanwhile, the start of the IPL sees Chennai Super Kings defending their title against Royal Challengers Bangalore, possibly marking the final year for Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the lucrative Twenty20 competition after he relinquished the captaincy on Thursday.

Despite retiring from international cricket in 2019, Dhoni remains a revered figure in Indian cricket. While there were indications of a slowdown in his performance last season, his leadership was instrumental in Chennai clinching their fifth title, matching Mumbai Indians' record.

Reports suggest that 2024 might be Dhoni's last IPL season, especially after he underwent knee surgery last year. He passed on the captaincy to batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the opening match. Chennai Super Kings did not disclose Dhoni's future plans beyond this year's tournament.