IPL 2023: Sam Billings Decides Not To Participate Next Season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) To Have INR 2 Crores More In IPL 2023 Auction

Published - 14 Nov 2022, 02:43 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 09:23 AM

Sam Billings (Image Credits: Twitter

Sam Billings, a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Kolkata Knight Riders and England, said on Monday that he won’t be playing in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

On Sunday, Kolkata Knight Riders acquired Gujarat Titans’ Lockie Ferguson, a fast bowler from New Zealand, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a wicketkeeper from Afghanistan.

Sam Billings, a wicket-keeper batsman with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has unexpectedly decided not to be retained before the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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Billings was selected by the two-time champions in the mega auction at his base price of INR 2 crore. He played eight games for the Shreyas Iyer-led team in the 2022 edition, but he has decided to skip the entire IPL season.

Billings declared that he wants to concentrate on red-ball cricket and that he will play for Kent in the early county season of the County Championship. Billings said it was a difficult choice, but he liked his time with the franchise located in Kolkata and hoped their paths would cross again in the future.

“An amazing franchise with some brilliant people”: Sam Billings

Sam Billings joined the KKR team for 2 crores in the IPL 2022 season, giving the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team an extra 2 crores to spend during the forthcoming mini-auction.

“Have taken the tough decision that I won’t be taking part in the next IPL @KKRiders. Looking to focus on longer-format cricket at the start of the English summer with @kentcricket.”

Thank you so much for the opportunity @kkriders ! Loved every minute of it. An amazing franchise with some brilliant people.

Hopefully see you again in the future ? pic.twitter.com/hxVVXfRqEE

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) November 14, 2022

“Thank you so much for the opportunity @kkriders! Loved every minute of it. An amazing franchise with some brilliant people. Hopefully, see you again in the future,” he added.

Sam Billings scored 169 runs in eight games, averaging 22.4 and striking at 122.4. Billings was a vital component of the KKR middle order alongside skipper Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Rinku Singh, and it was assumed that he would be retained by the franchise.
Starting next season, the IPL will have a two-and-a-half-month schedule. Between 2014 through 2021, the IPL had eight teams and 60 matches every season. With the addition of two extra teams in 2022, the total number of matches increased to 74.

Also Read: PAK vs ENG: ‘Pakistan Has The Best Fast-bowling Attack In The World’- Imran Khan Praise Pakistani Bowling Attack

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Indian Premier League (IPL) Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 IPL 2023 Kolkakta Knight Riders (KKR) Sam Billings