When the Rajasthan Royals come out to face the Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday in their first game of the current Indian Premier League season, their backs could be against the walls against a formidable CSK team. The team led by MS Dhoni defeated the defending champion Mumbai Indians in their first game of the season and will be full of confidence.
The Royals will be missing a few key players like Ben Stokes and will have to rely on the latest additions to the team to push them forward and give them a shot at a surprising victory. Steve Smith will be the key player.
Here is our predicted XI of Rajasthan Royals:
READ| IPL Preview: Balanced RR Seeks Early Gains Against Confident CSK
Yashasvi Jaiswal
The young Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a name for himself in the Indian U19 team, was bought by the franchise for Rs 2.4 crore and great things are expected of him this year at the IPL. Yashasvi may be an inexperienced client, but he more than makes up for it with his talents.
Robin Uthappa
After moving from Kolkata Knight Riders, Robin Uthappa will feel the pressure on him to put on a good show and justify why he still has what it takes to be part of a winning unit. With Ajinkya Rahane out, Uthappa will have a key role to play at the top of the order.
Sanju Samson (week)
Sanju Samson has been in and out of the Indian team and this year’s IPL is a great opportunity for him to be a part of the T20 World Cup team next year. A motivated Samson can be a dangerous customer for all oppositions and therefore will undoubtedly be a key player this season.
Steve Smith (C)
Discussions in Australia are already taking place regarding returning the Captaincy of the Test to Steve Smith. Returning as captain of the Rajasthan Royals this season, Smith will be eager to prove his mettle as a leader and as a hitter. The right-handed hitter will be looking to have a good season and at least get the team to the playoffs.
David miller
David Miller is a versatile hitter and an experienced IPL player. After moving on from KXIP, the left-handed hitter will be eager to quickly settle into his new team and put on a show or two.
Tom curran
Former KKR sprinter Tom Curran will be part of the Rajasthan Royals solid-looking bowling unit. With Ben Stokes unavailable at the moment, Curran will also have to show some talent with the bat, which will be his biggest challenge.
Riyan parag
Riyan Parag has been recognized by the likes of Steve Smith as a special talent on the team and he will be eager to justify all the accolades he has received. He was an integral part of the RR team last season, so fans can only expect even bigger things from him this year.
Shreyas gopal
Shreyas Gopal had a fantastic season with RR last year in which he collected 20 wickets in 14 games. His hat-trick against RCB was one of the highlights of the 2019 season, and he will be eager to go one step ahead this year.
Jofra archer
Fast and lethal bowler Jofra Archer will return to IPL after seeing his fair share of ups and downs in the Test series against West Indies and Pakistan. The closer has also opened up to how difficult it is for him to be away from family. It will be interesting to see if the pacemaker is ready for this year’s IPL challenge.
Kartik tyagi
Young Kartik Tyagi, who made a name for himself in the U19 World Cup, could also have a shot in the Rajasthan Royals squad. He definitely has a lot of rhythm in his bowling alley, but it would be interesting to see how he fares against the best players in the world.
Jaydev Unadkat
Left arm pacemaker Jaydev Unadkat didn’t have the best performance at the IPL last year. He collected just 10 wickets in 11 games and gave up runs at an average of 39.8. But Unadkat had a fantastic Ranji season for Saurashtra last year in which he put on a star-making performance to lead his team to trophy victory. He will certainly have to show that he can translate similar performances in T20 cricket against the best players.
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