Rajasthan Royals did an excellent job of laying a solid foundation in the IPL 2022 mega auction by investing in young players, and they went on to sign some outstanding players like Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, and others. Choosing Ravichandran Ashwin and Trent Boult from the marquee set has provided stability to their bowling lineup, which appeared to be void at the outset.
They play the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, an uncapped player, was retained by the Royals for Rs 4 crore, while capped players Sanju Samson Rs 14 crore and Jos Buttler Rs 10 crore were retained as predicted. Shimron Hetmyer has been added to handle the finisher’s position, and Kumar Sangakkara has been excellent as the side’s director thus far.
Also read: Don’t have it anymore: Virat Kohli reveals AB de Villiers’ first words before retirement call
The Royals made certain that they added some great Indian contingent to their table, since they have long been an abroad dependent team, and the shift in tactics is likely to do them the world of good. They finished ninth in the last IPL 2021 season and haven’t won an IPL title since the first edition in 2011.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal was retained by the Rajasthan Royals in the uncapped players’ category ahead of the IPL 2022 super auction for Rs 4 Crore, and the kids have already promised a lot for the future. The left-hander was a member of India’s U19 side that advanced to the 2020 World Cup finals and was named the series’ man of the series.
The Mumbai-born boy did have a decent bit of opportunity for the Royals in the last IPL season, and he played some quickfire cameos that wowed many pundits and fans. Retaining the 20-year-old was one of the franchise’s best choices, given his potential and the team’s future.
Also read: Hardik Pandya bowls against Lucknow Super Giants, sends internet buzzing
Jaiswal scored 249 runs in 10 games last year and had a terrific strike rate of 148, which was one of the turning moments. He showed a lot of intent towards the conclusion of the tournament, and the same can be expected of him this year at the top of the order for the franchise.
Jos Butler
Jos Buttler was one of the predicted Rajasthan Royals retainers for Rs 10 Crores, and he adds a lot of value to the side in terms of winning games for the team. The right-hander had a fantastic IPL 2018 and resumed his attack at the top of the order in IPL 2019 by taking on the spinners early.
The England batsman is one of the most lethal batters in the game, with much T20 experience under his belt and a repertoire of skills that includes 360-degree strokes. Last year, he earned his first IPL century but had to miss a few games owing to international obligations.
Also read: Storm survivor Pandya promises ‘sporting success’ ahead of captaincy debut | Watch
Buttler can win matches on his own, as seen by his 254 runs in seven IPL games last year at a strike rate of 153. The 31-year-old also had a strong showing in the T20 World Cup and will give much-needed assistance to the inexperienced Jaiswal on the other end.
Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal was one of the most costly purchases for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 mega auction, costing Rs 7.75 crores following a heated bidding battle against the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings. The left-hander earned his India debut last year and is seen as the future of India’s top order.
Padikkal had a successful season with the Royal Challengers Bangalore last year, averaging 411 runs in 14 IPL games and scoring his first century in the cash-rich league. Padikkal has mostly climbed through the ranks after a phenomenal season for Karnataka in the 2020 domestic season.
With Jaiswal in the starting lineup, Padikkal may have to move to third base for the Royals, which will put the batter’s flexibility to the test. So far, he has scored the majority of his runs when opening and prefers to take advantage of the powerplay, which may not be the case this time.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson performed a good job as captain of the Rajasthan Royals in his first season, but he was unable to lead them to the playoffs. The right-hander was retained ahead of the IPL 2022 super auction for Rs 14 crores, and he will play an important part for the organisation in the future season.
Samson has a history of being inconsistent following a strong start to the season, which has hampered his prospects of making the Indian team. He is a prolific six-hitter as well as one of the greatest timing of the ball moving around. In contrast to previous seasons, Samson had a stellar performance in the most recent edition, scoring 484 runs in 14 games at an average of 40.
With the addition of Padikkal, the Kerala-born batsman may have to slip to number four in the batting order after hitting a spectacular century and two fifties in the previous season. His captaincy will be put to the test again this year, as he has been given a superb bowling setup.
Shimron Hetmyer
Shimron Hetmyer acquired a stunning Rs 8.5 Crores from the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 mega auction, and his ability to finish games in the middle order is one of the reasons for his high price tag. Hetmyer had played for the Delhi Capitals in the last IPL season when he was given a new position that worked really well.
The Guyanese cricketer is exceptionally powerful against spin bowling and uses his solid foundation to aim for maximums in the leg side areas. He also adds a left-handed bat in the middle order and will have to mentor the young players around him.
Last year, the 25-year-old scored 242 runs at an average of 34 in 14 IPL games, and his strike rate of 168 caused a lot of damage to the opponents. Hetmyer has been dealing with fitness issues recently, and the Royals will be hoping that he plays all of the games in the next season.
Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag has been re-signed by the Rajasthan Royals for Rs 3.8 crores, with the Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Titans all indicating interest in the youngster for the IPL 2022 season. The 20-year-old has been a consistent fixture for the team over the previous three years and is capable of taking on additional tasks.
So far, the Assam cricketer has played 30 IPL games, hitting 339 runs and playing some critical innings that have aided his team in recent years. He is also a street smart cricketer who can finish games down the order, albeit he hasn’t done so regularly.
Parag is an excellent fielder who rarely loses a catch, making him the best Indian player in the mix. He is still rather young and will be nurtured in the long term over the next years. He also contributes to the all-rounder option since he can rotate his arm with some leg-spin, which is important for the side’s balance.
James Neesham
Given the Royals franchise’s lack of all-round options, James Neesham was purchased at the end of the IPL 2022 mega auction. The New Zealander has been a consistent part of the international system and caused a lot of damage in the T20 World Cup 2021 at the end of the innings.
Neesham, given his ability, is capable of batting at number six as well, and he has yet to light up the stage in the cash-rich competition. He was signed for a basic fee of Rs 2 crores and has previously played for numerous clubs, including the Mumbai Indians last year.
Also Read | CEO Kasi Viswanath reveals why Chennai Super Kings didn’t buy Suresh Raina
His IPL stats aren’t particularly impressive, but he might earn a lengthy run of opportunities for the balance of the side this year. Neesham is an overlooked all-rounder who can smash the ball a long way and bowl his medium pacers quickly.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin was one of the cheap acquisitions from the marquee set in the IPL 2022 mega auction by the Rajasthan Royals for barely Rs 5 Crores, and his expertise will prove extremely useful for the team. The club has been weak in great Indian spinners over the years, and this might be a wake-up call in terms of squad development.
Ashwin was not retained by the Delhi Capitals before the mega auction, despite bowling exceptionally effectively in the past three IPL seasons despite not adding wickets to his tally. He can bowl with the new ball and is one of the brightest brains in the room.
The 35-year-old is a useful lower-order hitter with a career economy rate of less than seven in 167 IPL games, which is impressive given he is an off-spinner. Ashwin also has a lot of variations, and his carrom balls have always been one of his most fruitful.
Trent Boult
Trent Boult was purchased from the marquee set in the IPL 2022 mega auction at Rs 8 Crore following a fierce bidding war against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. The New Zealander was an important part of Mumbai Indians’ winning campaigns in the IPL 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The left-arm seamer can touch 140 Kmph at times and like to swing both ways with the new ball, making him extremely threatening against left-handed batters. The 32-year-old has a lot of IPL experience already, having taken 76 wickets in 62 IPL games at an economy rate of 8.39.
Also Read | IPL Auction 2022: Top 5 most expensive uncapped players
Boult, who is a seasoned campaigner, is also very effective at the death with his ability to strike the yorkers. He took 13 wickets in 14 IPL games last season, which was one of his least prolific seasons, and will be seeking to improve on that total this season.
Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna was one of the Royals’ most costly purchases in the IPL 2022 mega auction, fetching Rs 10 crores following a bidding battle between the Royals, the Lucknow Super Giants, and the Gujarat Titans. The Indian fast has been in excellent form recently, including some brilliant spells against the West Indies in the 50-over format.
Krishna is still relatively young and has a lot to give a team like the Rajasthan Royals. He possesses raw speed, which is one of the most sought-after assets in the cash-rich competition. Last year, the 25-year-old was in and out of the Kolkata XI, but he is expected to earn more playing time with the Rajasthan Royals.
Also Read | From Yuvraj Singh to Pat Cummins: Most expensive buys in IPL auctions
The Karnataka pacer has come a long way in the previous two years and will play a crucial role on the other end alongside Boult. He took 12 wickets in 10 games last season and has a flair for taking wickets in the middle overs, which will be essential for his team.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal was purchased in the IPL 2022 mega auction for Rs 6.5 crores and is a match-winner on his own with the ball. The leg spinner has been a terrific servant for the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a long time, thus it was shocking to see RCB not retain or even bid for him.
Last season, Chahal failed to pick up wickets in the initial phase of the IPL 2021, but he rebounded like a champion, ending with 18 wickets in 15 games overall. He bowled some spectacular deliveries and is one of the finest in the business at dismissing big hitters.
Also Read | ‘They tried hard’: Ex-BCCI selector on failure of top Indian players in IPL
The 31-year-old has also been pretty frugal and provides a lot of air to the ball. Chahal’s IPL and international experience will give him a significant advantage over the other spinners.
Possible XI of Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Butler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, James Neesham, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal (captain).
