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Rajasthan Royals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Back in 2008, when the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) edition was played, no cricket analysts were considering Rajasthan Royals (RR) to lift the trophy. However, Shane Warne’s majestic captaincy and the spunk of players made Royals the first IPL champions. In 2022, RR qualified for the final for the first time under Sanju Samson but choked on the massive day against the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT).
In 2023, Royals were considered one of the favourite teams to win the title but couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. The Men in Pink will strive to get their hands on the coveted trophy in 2024 and before the upcoming tournament, the RR team management bought five players in the 2024 auction held in Dubai.
Rovman Powell was Royals’ costliest buy as the franchise fetched him for INR 7.4 crore. Along with Powell, they also got South Africa’s left-arm pacer Nandre Burger. After the blockbuster business event, let’s look at the SWOT analysis of the first IPL champions.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Strengths:
Star-studded top order
Royals have some sensational batters like Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. In the previous season, Jaiswal looked spectacular with his bat and ended up as the fifth-highest run-getter with 625 runs in 14 games, at a magnificent strike rate of 163.61. Buttler couldn’t make the 2023 season big for himself but in 2024, he will look to complement Jaiswal.
Captain Sanju Samson’s responsibility will be to play at number three and assist both openers to strengthen the team’s top order. Both Buttler and Samson have been active in the RR squad since 2018 and their vast experience makes them a credible figure for the team.
Sensational spin attack
RR have Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, and Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad. These exceptional players do not require any introduction. All three spinners have played a lot of international cricket and they are the best known for making batters dance to their tunes.
Zampa displayed his bowling mettle in the 2023 World Cup, bagging 23 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 5.36. In Australia’s sixth title win, the 31-year-old ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker. Talking about Ashwin and Chahal, both India stalwarts are familiar with Indian conditions and have the potential to give headaches to batters.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Weaknesses:
Lack of all-rounders
RR parted ways with West Indies player Jason Holder before the 2024 auction and following this move, the team has only Ashwin as an all-rounder. In the 2024 IPL edition, every side will go with a minimum of two quality all-rounders while Rajasthan have only one player in the all-rounder role.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Opportunities:
An enormous opportunity for some players to break into India’s T20 World Cup 2024 team
The 2024 IPL edition will emerge as the biggest opportunity for some RR players to punch their tickets for the West Indies to play for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup. India stalwarts Jaiswal, Samson, and Chahal will look to be at their best to enter India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Threats:
Out-of-form players
RR’s biggest concern will be their main players’ form. Jos Buttler hasn’t looked consistent with his bat since October 2023. The veteran hit three fifties against the West Indies recently but those innings don’t guarantee that he has regained his form.
Prasidh Krishna, who will make a comeback for RR in 2024, is also out of rhythm. In the five-match T20 International (T20I) series against Australia, he lacked disciplined and splurged a lot of runs. The lacklustre performance of both key players might become an issue for Royals in 2024.
