IPL 2021: Probable Rajasthan Royals (RR) Playing XI For UAE Leg
Among the many squads that had to look for replacements for the second leg, Rajasthan Royals had the toughest job as they had to replace the core around which their success in recent years was built. They lost the services of some stalwarts in their lineup, leaving them a little jaded for the UAE leg, which will begin in less than a week.
Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Andrew Tye and Jos Buttler had to pull out of the tournament citing different reasons and to replace them, Rajasthan managed to put pen on paper with Oshane Thomas, Evin Lewis, Glenn Phillips and Tabraiz Shamsi. The 2008 champions have a tough ask going into the second half of the tournament and will be wary of the challenges that lie ahead.
As it stands, they are desperate for their new signings to work wonders, but for them to do it the way their predecessors did will be a tough ask. Rajasthan Royals currently are fifth on the table with 3 wins in 7 fixtures and for them to head into top four, they will have to overcome the likes of Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have been in terrific form.
Samson has scored 277 runs this season at an average of 46.17.
A major challenge lies ahead, but the franchise that hails from the city of forts knows a thing or two about breaching other strongholds.
Rajasthan Royals squad changes for the second leg of IPL 2021
OUT: Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Andrew Tye, Jos Buttler
IN: Oshane Thomas, Evin Lewis, Tabraiz Shamsi, Glenn Phillips
Current Rajasthan Royals Squad:
Sanju Samson (C and WK), Riyan Parag, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Kartik Tyagi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Oshane Thomas, Evin Lewis, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Anuj Rawat, David Miller, Manan Vohra, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahim, Chetan Sakariya, K.C. Cariappa, Liam Livingstone, Kuldip Yadav, Akash Singh, Glenn Phillips
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Probable Playing XI: Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Liam Livingstone/David Millier, Rahul Tewatia, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Chetan Sakariya, Kartik Tyagi, Tabraiz Shamsi
Rajasthan Royals Playing XI composition
Batsmen – Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Liam Livingstone/David Miller
Evin Lewis is a like-for-like replacement of Jos Buttler, and it is evident that he will make it to the XI the moment he’s available for selection. He finished the CPL as the highest run-scorer, with 420 runs to his credit. He is likely to partner India’s U19 star Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played out some outrageous knocks in the domestic and U19 level, but is yet to find his feet in the IPL.
Experience would say David Miller but form would favor Liam Livingstone in the middle order conundrum caused by these two batters. Riyan Parag has remained a little inconsistent but is known to chip in with knocks from time to time that reiterates his status as one of the next big things in Indian cricket.
Wicketkeeper – Sanju Samson (C)
Skipper Sanju Samson will now have the crucial responsibility of holding this middle order, on his shoulders. Despite showing many glimpses of his outrageous talent, inconsistency has been his arch-nemesis. With Buttler and Stokes out of picture, he is clearly their biggest name in the batting department and they will require crucial contributions from the man.
All-rounders – Rahul Tewatia (spin), Chris Morris (pace), Shivam Dube (pace)
Tewatia smashing the third of his three boundaries off Rashid Khan in the 18th over
IPL’s second most expensive player, Chris Morris, found himself in an unfortunate position when he was left out of the South African squad, but he is more than capable of chipping in with some big knocks. In the past, he has contributed with a few cameos with the willow, and there’s no denying he is capable of doing it again.
Rahul Tewatia played one of the greatest knocks in IPL history last time in Sharjah, and he might have to chip in with the bat more often than last season. Shivam Dube will be primarily viewed as a batter, hence, his position in the batting order might fluctuate. In these slow conditions, his medium pace could come in handy.
Bowlers – Chetan Sakariya (pace), Kartik Tyagi (pace), Tabraiz Shamsi (spin)0
0Rajasthan will be heavily reliant on their young speedsters Kartik Tyagi and Chetan Sakariya to deliver the goods, but in the bowling department, all eyes will be on the chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi, who has been in terrific form for South Africa in recent times. He picked up 12 wickets in the limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka and has proven to be a tough nut to crack. His addition will be one of the most exciting ones for the Royals.