IPL 2024: Strongest Playing XI for Rajasthan Royals (RR) (Photo Source: Twitter)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) didn’t look inconsistent in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but failed to qualify for the playoffs. RR supporters will want their team to forget its previous season and go to the tournament with confidence in the 2024 IPL. Under Sanju Samson’s captaincy, the Men in Pink will back themselves to help their team become champions after 16 years.
In the latest development, Royals splurged INR 14.30 crore in the 2024 IPL auction held in Dubai and roped in five players. Before the auction, they also traded Devudutt Padikkal for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Avesh Khan. Noting the changes in the side after the auction, it’s time to know the probable playing XI of the 2008 IPL champions.
Here is Rajasthan Royals (RR) best XI after the 2024 IPL auction:
1. Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler was the Orange Cap winner in 2022 and he was expected to do wonders with his bat in 2023 again. However, the wicketkeeper batter failed to be at his best in the new season. Playing 14 games, he could score only 392 runs at an average of 28.00 and a strike rate of 139.00.
In the 2024 IPL, the veteran will look to showcase his batting excellence to give quality starts to RR. Buttler is RR’s one of the most bankable names as he has proven himself in the team with his sensational batting performances. With 2696 runs in 72 matches at a strike rate of 148.78, he is the third-highest leading run-getter for Royals, following Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal looked extraordinary with his bat in the 2023 IPL and ended up as Rajasthan’s highest run-scorer in the season. The left-handed batter accumulated 625 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 163.61. These impressive numbers also made him the fifth-leading run-getter in the competition.
The RR team management will want Jaiswal to play quality knocks for the team again in 2024. After the spectacular 2023 IPL season, the youngster made his debut for India in T20 Internationals (T20Is) and looked fine with his bat. Appearing in 15 games, he has scored 430 runs with a ton and three fifties.
3. Sanju Samson (C) & (WK)
Sanju Samson will have to lead RR from the front in the 2024 IPL. In the last season, he failed to take the team to the playoffs as a captain but looked decent with his bat. The 29-year-old scored 362 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 153.38. However, the RR team management will want their skipper to be more aggressive with his bat and leadership in 2024.
Recently, the right-handed batter did an amazing job in both domestic and international cricket. In the ongoing India tour of South Africa, he smashed his maiden international ton in the third One-Day International (ODI) played in Paarl. Samson will look to continue his form in IPL to serve the team efficiently.
4. Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag failed with his bat in the 2023 IPL and added another horrendous season to his profile. Playing seven games, he could score only 78 runs at an extremely low average of 13.00 and a strike rate of 118.18. His below-par performance didn’t shake RR’s confidence in him as they retained him for the 2024 season.
Parag’s performance in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) helped him to win the RR team management’s trust. Appearing for Assam, he notched up 510 runs in 10 games at a mind-boggling strike rate of 182.79 and became the top-scorer in the domestic tournament. After releasing Padikkal, Parag might be seen batting at number four and reinforcing the middle order.
5. Shimron Hetmyer
Shimron Hetmyer has looked exceptional for the Royals in the last two seasons. In 29 games, he accumulated 613 runs for Rajasthan in 28 innings, at a strike rate of 152.86. The talented Caribbean possesses aggressive batting skills that make him adept at stealing runs from opponents at a swift pace.
In the RR side, he plays the role of a finisher because of his remarkable power. The southpaw played a lot of cricket after the last IPL edition but failed to be impactful. In the 2023 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), his bat remained silent. Representing Amazon Warriors, he amassed only 227 runs in 10 innings. The 27-year-old will look to be disciplined in upcoming contests to boost his confidence.
6. Rovman Powell
Royals bought the West Indies batter Rovman Powell for INR 7.40 crore in the 2024 IPL auction. Along with his national teammate, Hetmyer, Powell is also known for his power-hitting potential. In the previous IPL installment, he looked off-color while serving Delhi Capitals (DC).
He scored only seven runs in three games for Delhi and witnessing his miserable performance, the franchise parted ways with him. Powell’s endeavors will be to display his batting mettle in RR’s jersey and win the confidence of the franchise. The 30-year-old has played 68 T20Is for the Windies side and has scored 1214 runs at a strike rate of 142.65.
7. Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel attracted a lot of attention during the 2023 IPL for his fiery batting skills. The 22-year-old scored 152 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 172.73. Noting his debut performance, RR kept him back for the 2024 season. The youngster will have to grab this opportunity and prove his franchise’s decision right with his performance.
Jurel hasn’t looked consistent with his bat in the 2023-24 domestic season. In the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he disappointed Uttar Pradesh with his flop show. Appearing in seven games, he scored only 64 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 125.49. However, the right-handed batter put up a decent show in the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy, racking up 158 runs in four innings. Eyes will be set on the Agra-born player again in the 2024 IPL.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin will spearhead RR’s spin-bowling unit in the upcoming tournament. The veteran has served Rajasthan efficiently so far. In these two years, he has clinched 26 wickets in 30 matches at an economy of 7.50. The finger spinner’s immense experience helps the team fare well.
After the 2023 IPL, Ashwin didn’t get a lot of matches in Indian colours in white-ball cricket. Playing three ODIs in the calendar year, he took five wickets at an economy of 4.51. In T20Is, he hasn’t got a chance after November 2022. The veteran will look to produce fire with the ball for RR in the upcoming competition and become a part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup side.
9. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna will make a comeback in the cash-rich league after missing the entire 2023 season. The pacer will have to support Trent Boult to bolster RR’s pace attack. Krishna is considered a wicket-taking bowler but his knack of splurging runs proves costly to his teams.
Donning India jersey, he featured in five T20Is in 2023 and got eight wickets at a dismal economy of 11.00. In death overs, he struggles to contain runs, and his last over against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2022 IPL playoff game corroborates it. With the presence of Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan in the team, Krishna will have to showcase his spunky side in the 2024 IPL.
10. Trent Boult
Trent Boult’s responsibility will be to provide early breakthroughs to RR in the competition. The left-handed pacer is known for asking tough questions to batters and he will be expected to do the same for the side again in 2024. He put up a satisfactory show with the ball in the previous season, picking up 13 wickets in 10 games at an economy of 8.21.
During the IPL 2022, the Kiwi paceman delivered some exceptional wicket-taking spells to the Royals in powerplay overs and won the hearts of the team management. Captain Samson will want his fast-bowling spearhead to launch attacks on opponents throughout the upcoming tournament.
11. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has delivered notable numbers to the Royals in the last two years. He has bagged 48 wickets for RR in 31 matches at an economy of 7.93. The leggie’s role is to complement Ashwin to bolster the team’s spin attack and he has done that superbly thus far.
The 33-year-old missed the 2023 World Cup but he showcased his bowling efforts for his domestic side Haryana. In the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he claimed 18 wickets in eight contests at a thrifty economy of 3.70. The star player will strive to come heavily on batters in the cash-rich league to punch his tickets for the West Indies to play for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
