IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals strongest predicted playing XI against Lucknow Super Giants

Rajasthan Royals will enter the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) hoping for a much better campaign than they had last season. They were in the race to qualify for the play-offs but an inconsistent run of form led to their elimination. The team was below-par in certain aspects during key moments of the games, which resulted in them losing crucial matches last season. 

The side has made significant and bold changes to the squad and tactically aced the auctions earlier in December 2023. They had some key players opting out and missing due to injury but have replaced them with great players and the vacancy of those ones is not going to be felt at all. 

Rajasthan Royals roped in Rovman Powell as their marquee signing during the Indian Premier League 2024 auction. They also added quality players including Nandre Burger, Avesh Khan, Shubham Dubey which makes it a balanced squad for the competitive league. Let’s take a look at how the franchise would line-up against the Lucknow Super Giants in their opening game of the tournament. 

Also check: RR vs LSG Live Score, Match 4

Here's Rajasthan Royals' predicted XI against Lucknow Super Giants:

Openers: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal

The dynamic duo of Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal would be opening the batting for the third season in a row. Their blistering starts provide the team the much-needed momentum that they often need for the big games. If one of them remains at the crease for most of the team’s innings, they ensure to convert their start into a big one. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal has had a stellar 12 months since the start of last season and has gone on to make the most of his opportunities at the international stage for Team India. Within this period, he has become a key component for the team. Meanwhile, Jos Buttler has had an inconsistent run of form and would be looking to leave all that behind and play his attractive strokes right from the first delivery of this season.

Middle Order: Sanju Samson, Rovman Powell, Dhruv Jurel (wk)

The skipper of the Rajasthan Royals’ side would be looking to make the most of his opportunities in the Indian Premier League. Samson would be looking to play at his best and seal a spot at the upcoming T20 World Cup in West Indies and United States of America. He had a sublime season during the last edition and if he can replicate that sort of form with both his bat and his captaincy, the franchise can reach the play-offs as well. 

The franchises’ marquee signing Rovman Powell is expected to take over the spot of Joe Root, who opted out of this edition. He was roped in for big bucks and he might need to have a good season as he looks set to lead the West Indies at the T20 World Cup at home. His attacking abilities can change the tide of the game and he is maybe the X-factor player that the team desires at the number four spot.

Dhruv Jurel is the third wicketkeeper-batter in this star-studded Rajasthan Royals’ line-up. His rise to the international stage has been amazing and he would be looking to achieve new heights in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. The batter made his Team India debut in Tests earlier this year and has staked his claim to be amongst the best in the country as well.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Orange Cap

All-rounders: Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin 

The all-round duo of Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin will have all the eyeballs set on them. Parag would be looking to make up for a dismal showing in the last season with a string of key performances for the franchise. The side has instilled belief in his abilities and he would be expected to deliver this season. If he can perform for his side with both bat and ball this season, he might be one of the players that the franchise looks to retain ahead of the mega auction next season.

Ravichandran Ashwin is always one of the first players on the team sheet for the franchise. His expertise of the game is simply unparalleled and he would be looking to have yet another splendid season for the side this time around too. His bowling prowess is elite but if he can deliver some crucial cameos with the bat as well, he might just sneak his way through to the T20 World Cup later this year.

Bowlers: Nandre Burger, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan

Yuzvendra Chahal is one of the best leg-spinners around the world and his variations often leave the batters stunned. He has taken 48 wickets over the past two seasons with the Rajasthan Royals. If he can keep his performances up, the franchise would have another brilliant season with the ball. Chahal needs to have a good campaign for RR to do well this season.

Trent Boult is undoubtedly amongst the best new-ball bowlers in the world and has the experience of playing T20 franchise cricket around the world. He is known to decimate the batting line-ups with his different variations that trouble the batters more often than not. If he keeps up his performances, the franchise might have one of the best bowling attacks in the league.

Nandre Burger is one of the hottest bowling prospects for South Africa and his performances against India might have convinced the team management that he can share the new-ball alongside Trent Boult. His brilliant short-ball bowling can be lethal with the new two-bouncer rule. Burger might look to have a stellar season for the Royals and seal a place in the South African team for the T20 World Cup.

Avesh Khan was the newest addition to the franchise as he was traded for Devdutt Padikkal with the Lucknow Super Giants. He is one of the prospects that might be on the Indian team's radar for the T20 World Cup. His death overs bowling might decide the fate of the franchise in crucial matches in the league this season.

Also Check: Rajasthan vs Lucknow, Match 4 - MPL Opinio Prediction

Impact Player - Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep Sharma was one of the stand-out bowlers for the franchise last season with the absence of Prasidh Krishna. He would be expected to come in the latter half of the team’s bowling and deliver those toe-crushing yorkers. The pacer can also utilise the short ball to his advantage and limit the batters' scoring options. 

Also Check: IPL 2024 Purple Cap

RR's Predicted XI vs LSG:

Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Rovman Powell, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Nandre Burger, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan