Why Rajasthan Owner Slapped Ross Taylor?
NZ Cricketer has claimed that he was slapped on his face by a Rajasthan Royals owner when he got out for zero.
In a shocking revelation, former New Zealand player Ross Taylor revealed in his recent autobiography “Ross Taylor: Black & White” that he was slapped on his face by a Rajasthan Royals owner when he got out for zero in an IPL match against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Mohali. In the book he has said, “Rajasthan Royals played against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The target was to chase 195 Runs, I was out without scoring any runs and we didn’t get close to the target.”
“Afterwards, the team, support staff and management were in the bar on the top floor of the hotel. Where one of the Rajasthan Royals owners said to me, “Ross, we didn’t pay you a million dollars to get a duck” and slapped me on my face three or four times.” “He was laughing and they weren’t hard slaps but I’m not sure that it was entirely acting.”He further said, “Under the circumstances, I wasn’t going to make an issue of it, but I couldn’t imagine it happening in any professional sporting environments.”
Ross Taylor had played with the Royal Challengers Bangalore during the initial years of IPL but the Rajasthan Royals franchise had purchased him for around 8 crores in 2011. The player, however, said that he would have preferred to stay with the Bangalore franchise rather than Rajasthan. When you get such a big amount of money, you’re desperately keen to prove that you’re worth it. And those who are paying you that sort of money have high expectations that are a professional sport and human nature.
Ross Taylor further said when you go to a new team, you don’t get that backing. You never feel comfortable because you know that if you go two or three games without scoring, you come under the observation of the team management. After the news came out, it was a shocking claim and even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) knew nothing about it. Speaking to Inside sport, a BCCI official revealed that the board isn't aware of any such incident. "I am on the road travelling now so I do not know exactly what you are talking about," said the top official as per reports. However, the legendary batsman remained unsold during the IPL 2015 auction, and since then he didn't get a chance to feature in IPL. Ross Taylor announced his retirement earlier this year.
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