The Team
Rajasthan Royals, despite assembling a strong core, have failed to clinch the IPL title in recent seasons. The Royals have showcased some impressive cricket over the past few years, yet they’ve consistently fallen short when it comes to being a dominant force in the final stages of the tournament. They reached the playoffs twice in the last three seasons, finishing as runners-up in the 2022 edition. However, the Royals are now aiming to construct a squad capable of breaking through and securing their first title since the IPL’s inaugural season.
Under Sanju Samson’s captaincy, RR have made significant strides. By investing in Indian players, nurturing a robust uncapped core, and incorporating elite overseas players, RR nearly checked all the boxes needed to win the tournament, only to falter in the closing stages.
Auction Purse
Having retained key players like Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma, the Royals have already covered several bases, particularly in batting. However, by retaining six players, their auction purse is limited to just Rs 41 crore.
Will it be sufficient for them to pick a dream squad? While securing top stars and their backups might be challenging, the Royals can aim for a solid playing XI or XII, considering their strategy of minimal changes to the lineup, as observed in recent seasons.
Areas they need to strengthen
Rajasthan Royals must prioritise bolstering their bowling attack as soon as possible. With Samson and Jaiswal likely to open, and Parag, Hetmyer, and Jurel slotting into the middle order, a dependable No. 3 is crucial. Additionally, they need a couple of versatile all-rounders, quality spinners to potentially replace or complement Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, and a new-ball threat akin to Trent Boult.
For Rajasthan Royals, the priority should be to strengthen the bowling attack. They need at least two top-quality pacers, effective spinners, and dynamic all-rounders. An overseas core will be vital.
Players they would target
Can they reacquire Chahal or Boult? With only Rs 41 crore, it’s a challenging proposition. They might look towards local names – Deepak and Rahul Chahar – for versatility. Players like Liam Livingstone or Glenn Phillips could add explosive utility options, while bowlers like Spencer Johnson or Nathan Ellis could bolster their pace department.
Players they would like to buy back
Chahal should be a priority for Rajasthan Royals. His omission from the retention list might motivate RR to bid strongly for him. There’s also interest in re-signing young off-spinning all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who could be molded into the next Ashwin-like figure for T20 cricket.
Is there a chance to bring back Jos Buttler or Boult? Given their limited funds, it seems unlikely. However, don’t rule out a return for Kartik Tyagi, who, despite his potential and performance in the RR nets, struggled with injuries and selection consistency.
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