IPL 2022 – Rajasthan Royals best predicted 11 feat. bowling conundrum
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Captain Sanju Samson has India selection at stake in IPL 2022
We are now arriving at the moneyball team of the IPL – Rajasthan Royals. Or at least that is how they were before the current structure, as is in IPL 2022 came about. Now with a level playing field in terms of finances, each franchise is given an equal opportunity to build a team that can challenge for the trophy.
Hence, it may be surprising that the only time Rajasthan Royals did manage to make an impact in the tournament’s latter stages came in the inaugural edition. Since then, RR has not challenged for the trophy or even made a final.
Thus, it was imperative for the management to have a solid mega auction heading into IPL 2022. RR were dealt a major blow when they were unable to retain either of Ben Stokes or Jofra Archer. The 2008 champions, however, prevented the trio of Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal from going under the hammer.
IPL 2022 – Rajasthan Royals team analysis
In the mega auction thus, Rajasthan Royals needed middle order batters, all rounders and, of course, bowlers with the core of the top order already formed from their set of retained players. However, perhaps the lack of quality Indian middle order batters leading to inflated prices saw them bag Devdutt Padikkal, yet another young left handed opening batter.
The franchise believes the former RCB player will play at 3 and Buttler will open with Jaiswal. Consequently, Samson – the skipper – will bat at number 4. Explosive West Indian Shimron Hetmeyer is expected to bat at number 5 with Rassie van der Dussen also available for that role.
Where Rajasthan fall short is the lack of proven all rounders in this format. Riyan Parag, who contributes with the ball from various release points, is one option and the other is a choice between James Neesham and Daryl Mitchell. While they are good finishers and hitters, none of them invoke too much confidence in terms of being a long-term answer to the fifth bowler question.
Lower down, Ravichandran Ashwin is most likely to bat at number 8 for RR in IPL 2022 – a good lower order option to add to his off spin ability. However, beyond that Rajasthan Royals should not expect much in terms of runs. If the franchise pick their best bowlers, numbers nine to eleven looks thus – Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna. All three are necessarily number 11s.
Rajasthan do have alternatives to both pacers who can bat. They are Navdeep Saini and Nathan Coulter-Nile. However, they weaken the primary skill for which they have been acquired. Boult is a better T20 operator than Coulter-Nile although the latter can hit a long ball. And Saini, albeit not as effective as the Aussie, is a better batter than Krishna, who was acquired for INR 10 crore.
In fact, in case Rajasthan feel secure with their top order, they may even sacrifice one of the Kiwi all rounders – Neesham or Mitchell – to accommodate Coulter-Nile at either 7 or 8, depending on where Ashwin bats hence.
Rajasthan though will be pleased with their bowling line up. On their day, the duo of Chahal and Ashwin can spin a web around opposite batters. And if the pitch offers assistance to quick bowling, in the experienced Boult and the ever improving Krishna, Rajasthan have a potent pace attack in IPL 2022.
In terms of an Indian batter as back up, Rajasthan Royals acquired the services of Karun Nair, who has found form in the Ranji Trophy.
IPL 2022 – Rajasthan Royals predicted 11
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (C), Shimron Hetmeyer, Riyan Parag, James Neesham, Ravichandran Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal.
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Arinjay Ghosh
(77 Articles Published)