The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League is scheduled to begin on March 31 as fans wait to see their favourite players in action once again. With the competition right around the corner, the finalists of the 2022 IPL, Rajasthan Royals, will once again be looking for a repeat of their performances from the previous edition in the forthcoming tournament.
RR had a fantastic IPL season in 2022, dominating most of the games they played and finishing second on the competition standings with 18 points in 14 matches. The performances of Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal were integral for RR as they reached the summit clash of the tournament for the first time since 2008.
The 2023 mini auctions of the IPL saw RR rope in many significant names like Adam Zampa, Jason Holder, Joe Root, and many more to further bolster their squad going into the tournament; furthermore, the team also has a plethora of Indian talent as well, with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag who have impressed with their forms recently.
There is no reason why RR would not be able to repeat their excellent performances from the previous season. The one department that could cause problems for them is the batting department.
Where the likes of Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Sanju Samson provide some much-needed experience; Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag are lacking that crucial experience that is needed.
However, the same was not a problem for them in 2022. RR will hope that they execute their plans properly and make good use of the newly introduced ‘Impact Player’ rule.
The bowling line-up is where the team will look to have an edge over their opponents. The purple cap winner of the previous edition, Yuzvendra Chahal, will once again look for a repeat of his fabulous performances. The 32-year-old finished the 2022 IPL with 27 wickets to his name. Apart from Chahal, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Kuldeep Sen, Jason Holder, Adam Zampa, and Sandeep Sharma will also look to bolster their bowling attack.
After missing out on their second IPL title in 2022 as they lost to a brilliant Gujarat Titans’ side, RR will be desperate for payback in the 2023 IPL. They take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first match of the tournament on Sunday, April 2 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
