Revealed: Why Reece Topley Could Not Sign Up For Chennai Super Kings Or Rajasthan Royals For IPL 2021

Reece Topley would have been a part of IPL 2021 but a County Championship rule did not allow him to participate in the tournament. English cricketer Recce Topley was offered to replace Josh Hazlewood in Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2021 after the latter decided to withdrew before the start of the tournament. Topley was also contacted by Rajasthan Royals to replace Jofra Archer in IPL 2021.

In 2018, Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon incorporated a new rule and introduced a cut-off date for replacement players to take part in IPL. According to the rule, players who are part of the Country Championship can sign IPL contracts as replacement players within 10 days after the IPL auctions. After this cut-off date, players cannot sign IPL contracts as replacement players.

However, this rule only applies to players who draw their primary salary from their country rather than from ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board).

It’s Unfortunate, Says Reece Topley

Reece Topley plays for Surrey in Country Championship and draws his primary salary from the same county. Therefore, he had to follow the regulation of the 10-day cut-off date for the IPL contract. He went unsold in IPL 2021 auction. Left-arm medium-pacer Reece Topley was contacted by Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals after the cut-off date, which was February 28 this time. Therefore, he could take part in IPL 2021.

Speaking over the matter, Topley told ESPNCricinfo that it was unfortunate since he was really keen to play in IPL 2021.

“There was an opportunity to go out. It’s unfortunate – I was really keen to go, but there’s something in place that means English county players can’t go out as replacements. Jason went but he’s contracted to the ECB, whereas I’m contracted to Surrey, and I fell under that rule. It was something I’d have liked to have done but those are the rules,” he said.

Jason Roy was another English cricketer who went unsold in IPL 2021 auction but he was later picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad to replace Mitchell Marsh, who opted out of IPL 2021 due to personal reasons.

Although Jason Roy was contacted by Sunrisers Hyderabad after the cut-off date, he was able to take part in IPL 2021 as he has a contract with ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and not any county.

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