IPL 2018: Best Possible XI for Rajasthan Royals

A team known for promoting young talents from around the world, Rajasthan Royals came in with a slightly different strategy in this Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. Having said that, they still managed to buy some wonderful young talents like Sanju Samson and Jofra Archer, but they went for quite a big amount. They also made the most expensive signing, spilling Rs. 12.5 crore for Ben Stokes.

On paper, they look decent but there are some areas where they look a bit fragile. RR don’t have any big names to bowl the death overs. Maybe Jofra Archer will take up that role for the side alongside Ben Stokes, but Stokes can go for runs in the final few overs.

Jaydev Unadkat, the costliest Indian player in this edition, will be their main man in the bowling department. He will open the bowling, try to get a breakthrough and then come back in the death to finish the innings on a high. They also have Dhawal Kulkarni, but he’s at his best with the new ball.

Their batting department looks well sorted with the likes of Sanju Samson, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, and Ben Stokes. They also have Rahul Tripathi and Jos Buttler, who were fabulous for their respective franchises last season. There is some scepticism surrounding a few facets, but this team has the calibre to do a great job. Here’s the probable playing XI for the Royals.

Openers – (Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane)

Both these individuals opened together for the Rising Pune Supergiant last season. They worked wonderfully in tandem and they’d love to bat again here as well. They used the RTM card to get back Rahane, whilst Rahul Tripathi was signed up for a whopping Rs. 3.4 crore. Tripathi scored 391 runs in his first ever season and if he can pull off a similar performance, he’d be knocking the doors of the Indian selectors.

Middle Order – (Steve Smith, Sanju Samson, Mahipal Lomror)

Australian skipper Steve Smith and Sanju Samson will be exchanging the number 3 and 4 spots as the tournament progresses. Both of them are brilliant at number 3, which makes it difficult for the management to decide who should go first. Another exciting young batsman in the middle order will be Mahipal Lomror, who was an integral part of the U19 Indian team in 2016.

All-rounders – (Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer)

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer are all-rounders of the highest quality. It was barely surprising to see both these players going for such big prices. Whilst Stokes contributes profusely and equally across all three dimensions, Archer is more of a bowler who can bat. Archer will play a crucial role in the death overs and is also an acrobatic fielder.

Wicketkeeper – (Jos Buttler)

One of the best-limited overs cricketers in the world right now, Jos Buttler at Rs. 4.4 crore was a brilliant buy for the Royals. He can play at the top of the order and can do wonders in the final overs as well, so he’ll be the floater in the lineup. If he’s in the XI, he’ll be wearing the gloves and take the place behind the stumps.

Bowlers – (Krishnappa Gowtham, Jaydev Uadkat and Dhawal Kulkarni)

Another one of those Karnataka players who went for a whopping price, Krishnappa Gowtham cost a humongous Rs. 6.2 crore. The spinner can also bat very well and did a fine job for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. He has a bag full of tricks with the ball, which will prove helpful in bamboozling the batsmen.

“With more power comes more responsibility” is a famous one-liner. In the IPL, it’d be a little different, “With more money comes more responsibility”. This is applicable for Unadkat, who cost a fortune for the Royals and he’ll be their main man in the death overs. Accompanying him would be Dhawan Kulkarni, who has been doing a fabulous job for the Royals for a long time.

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