'Looks like better balance for me with Holder in place of Zampa' - Shaun Pollock advises RR ahead of clash against LSG

Rajasthan Royals are having a dream run in the Indian Premier League season 16 as they are ranked on the top of the points table with four wins to their name from five matches. The Sanju Samson-led side will be up against Lucknow Super Giants in their next fixture on Wednesday, April 19 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Ahead of the match, legendary South Africa fast bowler Shaun Pollock believes that the RR team management needs to bring in all-rounder Jason Holder in place of spinner Adam Zampa as he feels two spinners would be enough in the team. He further said that they need someone to provide support to Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma and Holder will also bring with him much-needed firepower in the lower order.

"It just looks like a better balance for me with Holder in place of Zampa. When you have just two pacers who have to take care of the front six overs and the back two it may get difficult for them. So with Holder, they have that extra pacer and also some firepower in the batting. They just look better balanced so if Holder is fit, he gets preference,” said Pollock on Cricbuzz.

Adam Zampa picked up 1/32 in four overs in the previous match against Gujarat Titans and has played just two games so far with two wickets to his name. Former Australia cricketer Lisa Sthalekar was also present on the panel and praised youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal for his magnificent performance in the season so far. She further called Rajasthan the favourites to win the upcoming game considering their great record at their home ground.

"A lot of their players have been firing all cylinders. But particularly Yashasvi Jaiswal who has been with them from a couple of years. They also have a great record at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium with a win percentage of 68%. Lucknow also haven't beaten Rajasthan yet and so things are nicely stacked up to the home side's advantage,” Sthalekar said on Cricbuzz.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler have been a formidable opening pair

Jaiswal has amassed 136 runs so far in the tournament in five innings at an average of 27.20 and a strike rate of 149.45 with two fifties to his name. The southpaw has given several fiery starts to his side along with Jos Buttler wreaking havoc on the opposition right from the word go. RR’s batters have been in sublime form as Sanju Samson, Buttler, and Shimron Hetmyer are all among the runs.

With the ball, Yuzvendra Chahal (11 wickets), Ravichandran Ashwin (6 wickets), and Trent Boult (6 wickets) have given breakthroughs during every game. The 2022 runners-up will look to continue their three-match winning streak against LSG who are coming into the match having lost their last game against Punjab.