IPL 2021: 3 Players who can replace Ben Stokes in Rajasthan Royals squad

The Rajasthan Royals have been under-performing since their title victory in 2008. They have tried every option and now they have given their star batsman Sanju Samson an opportunity to take the charge of captaincy. During their first match against the Punjab Kings, the Royals were chasing a huge target. After a poor start, Samson took the initiative. Later on, he scored a magnificent century.

Even though they lost, the Royals have a bigger problem to address. Their star all-rounder Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League this year. This is because of a broken finger and hence leaves a huge void in the lineup. Now, the main question is who will replace Stokes?

It is no doubt that Ben Stokes is one of the finest all-rounders in the game right now. And it will be difficult for the royals to find a replacement for him. For a new skipper, the presence of an all-rounder like Stokes is a huge asset. Now, it is time to find some replacement options for the Royals.

Let us have a look at the three players who can replace Ben Stokes at Rajasthan Royals:

 3. Devon Conway

During the recently concluded New Zealand versus Australia T20 series, Devon Conway made the headlines because of his consistency. In a series where both the teams fought fearlessly, Conway was the most consistent player. Well, it looks like the franchises missed a trick by not opting for him in the 2021 auction. But, he might get a chance to get the IPL experience.

As Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the IPL, the RR management should look forward to filling their opening slots. A batsman of Conway’s calibre, who has been phenomenal since his debut might do the trick. His wide range of shots and attacking nature can help the middle order to take their time if they need to. Now, after a stellar series against Australia, franchises might go after him in the next auction.

So, if the Royals manage to bring him into the squad and he performs exceedingly well in this high-profile tournament, then they might look forward to retaining him ahead of the auction. In 14 T20Is, Conway has scored 473 runs with an excellent strike rate of 151.12. Apart from that, his average of 59.12 proves his consistency. Although he has not scored a century in this format, it is a matter of time that he becomes the next big thing in the circuit. 

2. Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill is one of the cleanest strikers of the cricket ball. Over the years, he has been opening for the New Zealand cricket team. If the Royals are looking for someone to open the innings for them, then Martin Guptill is the perfect name. His ability to tee-off from the word go can help Royals to put pressure on the opposition bowlers. 

Guptill has played in 186 ODIs so far. And with a healthy average of 41.98, he can anchor the innings in case of a collapse too. The ODI stats do showcase that he has been playing as per the situation for a long time. Apart from that, he has a double century to his name too.

Talking about his T20I performance, Guptill has scored at an average of 32.3. A healthy strike rate of 136.82 showcases his ability to hit boundaries at regular intervals. In T20Is, he has scored two hundreds. Well, unfortunately, he has been unable to get regular chances in the IPL.

1. Alex Hales

Alex Hales has been one of the stalwarts in English cricket. Although there are some issues related to his position in the English lineup, he has the potential to make a huge impact in the IPL. Hales plays aggressively and it will help Rajasthan to get off to a solid start. Well, unfortunately, he was unsold during the auctions. 

Talking about his BBL career, Hales has scored 1474 runs in 47 matches. A humongous strike rate of 152.12 showcases his ability to go big. Adding on, he can convert the fifties into hundreds. Therefore, he has been successful in the BBL over the years. 

In 60 T20I games, Hales has scored 1644 runs with a strike rate of 136.66. Adding on, he has a century in T20Is to his name. Although Hales has been unable to get regular chances in the IPL, he can put the tournament on fire. If the Royals manage to get Hales in their team, it will be a big boost to their lineup.