Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have included Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch in place of Alex Hales. Alex Hales has pulled out of IPL 2022 citing ‘boy bubble fatigue and his mental health’. A statement issued by the IPL said that Aaron Finch will join Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 1.5 crore (about US$ 196,000).
Venky Mysore, CEO and MD, Kolkata Knight Riders said, “We respect Alex Hales’ decision to choose family and mental health over his participation in the upcoming IPL season. Bio-bubble-life is not easy. Players from all over the world have shared their views on the subject. We will not include him in Galaxy of Knights this season, but we wish him all the best.
“We are delighted to welcome T20 World Cup winning captain Aaron Finch to the Knight Riders family. He is excited to join the rest of the KKR team in Mumbai. We look forward to benefiting from his vast experience.
Alex Hales has played 336 T20 matches so far. In this, he has scored 9471 runs at an average of 30.95 and strike rate of 146.08. It also includes his 5 centuries and 58 half-centuries. Alex Hales’ highest score in T20 is 116 not out. Alex Hales He has also played 11 Tests and 70 One Day Internationals for England, in which he has 573 and 2419 runs respectively.
Aaron Finch will also not be able to play in the initial matches of the IPL due to the Australian team being on a tour of Pakistan. Two-time champions KKR have to play their first match against Chennai Super Kings on 26 March. Aaron Finch was not bought by any team in last month’s IPL auction. He also went unsold in the auction for IPL 2021. KKR has attached him to their team for his base price of Rs 1.50 crore.
Australia Finch, the captain of the T20 World Cup winning team, has so far scored 2686 runs in 88 T20 Internationals with the help of two centuries and 15 half-centuries. Aaron Finch has played a total of 87 matches in IPL so far. In this, he has scored 2005 runs at an average of 25.70. This includes his 14 half-centuries. His highest score is 88 not out.
Finch played in IPL for Rajasthan Royals in 2010, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) from 2011 to 2012, Pune Warriors in 2013, Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014, Mumbai Indians in 2015, Gujarat Lions from 2016 to 2017, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab in 2018) Kings) and has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020.