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‘Drained’ Zampa withdrew from IPL to put family and body first

Adam Zampa decided not to play in the IPL 2024 because he was “completely drained” after the previous season. He also chose to focus on the T20 World Cup in June because he wasn’t sure how much cricket he would have played.

Zampa had been part in the Rajasthan Royals’ previous campaign and was scheduled to join them, but he withdrew on the day of the season. Despite battling multiple ailments, he played a crucial role in Australia’s victory at the ODI World Cup last year. The T20I series against India began, and he was there for a short while until he left midway through.

His home season consisted of the white-ball series against the West Indies and New Zealand, then the BBL with Melbourne Renegades, where he made eight appearances.

“This year, the IPL wasn’t for me for a number of reasons. The World Cup being in 2023 and the fact that I’m exhausted from it, in my opinion, was the most significant factor, Zampa said on the Willow Talk podcast. “Last year, I watched the entire IPL. Of course, India also hosted the World Cup for three months.

“My goal was to participate in the Indian Premier League once more this year. But when it actually came down to it, I felt like I wasn’t able to give the Rajasthan Royals my all, and I’m definitely more excited about the World Cup now than I was before.”

Zampa wasn’t sure how many games he would receive if he had gone through another extended period away from home given the team having Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin. Zampa appeared six times for the Royals last season and grabbed eight wickets.

“It came down to my decision being I probably need to put my body and my mental health first,” he stated. “Then you include a lot of other factors as well, such as the fact that I have a young family. Spending nine weeks in India while also battling for a position on the team is not an easy task.

“I can’t just tell myself, ‘Well, that’s okay, I have 14 games to get ready for a World Cup,'” I have no idea how many games—two, four, or six—that will really be played. I eventually came to the conclusion that it could be best for me to simply rest, prioritise my family, and take care of my physical needs.

“It’s not an easy decision because you always have that voice in the back of your head wondering what people will think if you pull out of the IPL. What occurs if you wish to attend the Indian Premier League again? Do folks use that brush to kind of paint you? However, after I made that choice, I didn’t give it much thought because I knew it was the right one.”

Zampa, who won the ODI and Test Championships in 2023, will be crucial to Australia’s efforts to win all three men’s global titles at the T20 global Cup. Mitchell Marsh, who will lead the team in the competition, emphasised earlier this year how important he was.

Following the West Indies series, Marsh remarked, “Zamps is by far our most important bowler and probably our most important player in this team.”

Zampa will likely be joined in the Caribbean team by another spin option, with Ashton Agar being considered for a recall. Zampa and Glenn Maxwell were Australia’s spin duo during the ODI World Cup.

By May 1st, the first World Cup team must be announced; however, on May 25th, changes are permitted.

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