Rajasthan Royals sign Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas

The West Indian duo are tasked with replacing Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes

Indian Premier League 2021: Fixtures

Indian Premier League 2021: Squad lists

Rajasthan Royals have signed Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas for the remainder of the 2021 Indian Premier League.

Opening batsman Lewis replaces Jos Buttler, who has withdrawn from the second half of the tournament to attend the birth of his second child, while fast bowler Thomas replaces Ben Stokes. The England allrounder is currently taking a break from cricket.

Both players are currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League, with Lewis representing St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Thomas playing for Barbados Royals.

Lewis has previously represented Mumbai Indians in the IPL, scoring 430 runs, including two fifties, in 16 appearances. The 29-year-old has scored 4,934 career T20 runs, including 1,318 at a strike rate of 158.03 in 45 appearances for West Indies.

24-year-old Thomas made four appearances for the Royals in 2019, taking five wickets and bowling with an economy of 7.9. He has taken 61 career T20 wickets, 19 of which have come in his 17 T20I appearances for West Indies.

The IPL, which was suspended on May 4 due to rising Covid-19 cases in both the tournament’s bio-secure bubble and India itself, will resume on September 19 in the UAE.

Rajasthan Royals are currently fifth in the standings, lying two points behind fourth-placed Mumbai Indians with seven matches remaining.