Rajasthan Royals has always produced star cricketers from scratch. From Yusuf Pathan to Steve Smith to Ravindra Jadeja, we have seen all these players excel at Rajasthan Royals at some point in time. But despite having all the armoury in their side, they still haven’t lived up to the expectations of the fans. Let us take a look at the predicted playing XI Rajasthan Royals can field this season.
Royals have never been able to live up to the reputation they carried with themselves in 2008. The constant change in team management and betting scandal restricted their chance of qualification on most occasions.
With Steve Smith back as captain for this Rajasthan will hope to finish in the top four this time. They had already got the firepower in the form of Ben Stokes, Smith and Jofra Archer. So in the IPL 2020, they built their team around the core.
The team owner Manoj Badale made some interesting picks, hoping to put up a good show this year. So let’s take a look at their probable playing XI.
Let’s have a look at the predicted playing XI of Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2020:
Jos Buttler
Without no doubt, the lineup has to start with the fiery batsmen from England Jos Buttler. Last year, Buttler gave Rajasthan some quick starts opening the batting along with Manan Vohra and Ajinkya Rahane.
The batting position of Buttler is a hot topic as the batsman is termed as a finisher in the making. But very recently, he has been opening for every team he has been playing from the Big Bash League to Indian Premier League.
So we expect him to open the innings this year in the UAE and help Rajasthan Royals take off to good starts in the powerplay.
Yashashvi Jaiswal / Robin Uthappa
This is a toss between youth power and experience. Yashashvi is coming out of a strong youth season with the India U-19 team in the World cup. On the other hand, Robin Uthappa has to prove a point after KKR let him go last year after a 7-year long association.
Both batsmen are aggressive openers, especially Uthappa who has scored tons of runs for KKR in the past. If Rajasthan Royals are to go by experience then Uthappa is the right man to opening alongside Buttler as we feel they both would compliment each other really well.
Steve Smith (C)
Steve Smith is arguably one of the best batsmen in the world right now. So when we talk about the priced No. 3 position in the side, it clearly belongs to the best batsman in the side which is Steve Smith.
The man from Australia has an added responsibility this year as he’s going to be the side’s full-time captain this year. This comes after Rahane stepped down from captaincy last year. So we pick Steve Smith at 3 over any other batsmen in the Royals set up since he’s got the right balance to play as a floater, anchor and even as a finisher.
Sanju Samson (WK)
The youngster who came into limelight during the 2014 U-19 World Cup is talked about even today. Largely because people see him as India’s prospect for the wicket keepers position in the Indian side.
But over the years he hasn’t had the greatest run in the IPL. He’s been associated with the Rajasthan franchise since a very long time and for that matter but hasn’t put up those match-winning performances in the past.
With this year Sanju being looked up as the player, who has played for India, we feel Sanju will prove a strong point with his batting this year.
Ben Stokes / David Miller
There is uncertainty looming around Ben Stokes’s participation in the upcoming IPL as the all-rounder from England is in New Zealand with his family as his father is suffering from Cancer.
Since there is no official announcement from either the ECB or Rajasthan Royals, we can largely expect him to be a part of the cash-rich league. If in case Stokes is unavailable then David Miller can take his place in the playing XI. As David Miller is formerly known as Killer Miller in the IPL for his sublime run he has had for Kings XI Punjab in the past.
Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag is a member of India’s 2018 U19 World Cup-winning squad, He was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2019 auction for his base price. Though he was priced at just 20 lakh, the batsman from Assam has the potential of a 2 crore player.
He has been in fine form for Assam in the Ranji Trophy and would want to replicate the same success for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming season. He’s a kind of batsman who could be used at the top as well as a floater down the order.
Riyan Parag, a complete package player should be one player to who’d look to make it big this year. Recently, Robin Uthappa had he can be the next MS Dhoni and all eyes will be on him.
Shreyas Gopal
The Karnataka born leg spinner has become an integral member of the Rajasthan side. After representing Mumbai Indians for 3 seasons, he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in 2018.
Ever since getting picked he hasn’t looked back as he’s been one of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament. In the 2019 season, he picked up 20 wickets at an average of 17.35.
The one key thing about Gopal has been his ultimate consistency even while bowling to left-handers. Which is why he’s one of the most important members of this side going into the season.
Jofra Archer
Jofra is one bowler who is slowly coming off the ranks in international cricket. Though he has already made his mark in the domestic t20 leagues all around after putting up a strong show for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League in Australia.
The fast bowler was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and has been a successful campaigner ever since. In his 21 game IPL career, Jofra has picked 26 wickets mainly bowling his overs up-front or at the backend in the death.
This year too Archer is expected to be Rajasthan’s lead bowler along with Unadkat in the tournament. Also for a fact that Archer is even a handy a batsman down the order which makes him an interesting pick in the playing XI.
Mayank Markande
The leg spinner after getting traded from two franchise during the same period has finally landed in the Rajasthan Royals camp. After playing for Mumbai Indians for little over two seasons, the leggie was traded to Delhi Capitals first and then was traded to Rajasthan Royals by the Capitals.
One should never forget the success Markhande had his first year with Mumbai Indians when he dismissed MS Dhoni LBW. He’s got a brilliant googly to deceive the batsmen which makes him a fine pick. Since he will be a handy bowler for the Royals on the dry pitches of UAE.
Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat is entering this IPL after leading Saurashtra to their maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2019. Moreover, he picked 67 wickets in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy season. After being bought for 8.4 Crore in the 2018 IPL auction, Unadkat didn’t really live up to their expectations which is why he was released ahead of the 2019 IPL auction.
But then he was bought back by the Royals for a mere 3 crores. This would be Unadkat’s third season with the Rajasthan Royals and he would be eager to perform and justify the team’s faith they have instilled for 3 years.
Varun Aaron / Ankit Rajpoot
The third seamer’s place in the side will be a toss-up between Varun Aaron and Ankit Rajpoot. Both bowlers known for their quick pace can rattle the stumps since they swing it either way.
Varun Aaron is coming off a terrific season for Jharkhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy where he picked up 10 wickets in 8 matches. On the hand, Ankit Rajpoot was traded by KXIP to RR ahead of IPL 2020.
Ankit bowled some quality spells over the years for Punjab which is why even he sounds a good pick for the 3rd seamer’s role though it is expected that Varun Aaron just has the upper hand in this case.