IPL 2018 - Rajasthan Royals Team Preview

Captain: Ajinkya Rahane.

Coach: Shane Warne.

Home Ground: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

IPL 2017 Result: Didn’t play

Best Result: Champions in 2008.

Released: Karun Nair, Dishant Yagnik, Tim Southee, Vikramjeet Singh Malik, Rahul Tewatia, Pravin Tambe, Rusty Theron, Barinder Sran, Sagar Trivedi, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Rajat Bhatia, Abhishek Nayar, Ben Cutting, Deepak Hooda, Chris Morris, Dinesh Salunkhe, Pardeep Sahu.

Purchased: Sudhesan Midhun, Ajinkya Rahane, Aryaman Birla, D’Arcy Short, Rahul Tripathi, Jatin Saxena, Stuart Binny, Mahipal Lomror, Jaydev Unadkat, Dushmantha Chameera, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin, ~~Zahir Khan~~, Heinrich Klaasen, Anureet Singh, Ankit Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Prashant Chopra, Sanju Samson, Ish Sodhi.

Here’s a team that has seen it all in the history of the Indian Premier League. Having won the inaugural season way back in 2008, the team hasn’t been that great ever since, generally lingering at the bottom of the table. They’ve even had a change in owners over the years, and also served a 2-year suspension over irregularities.

However, they’re back for the 11th edition of the IPL and it’s a fresh start for the Rajasthan Royals in 2018. The Pune franchise represented this team last year and Rajasthan went on to buy most of the players from that team, including two of the most expensive buys in English all-rounder Ben Stokes (Rs. 12.5 crore) and Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat (Rs. 11.5 crore).

Unadkat’s 24 wickets in 12 games last year bagged him a spot in the Indian team once again, while Stokes is currently the best all-rounder in the world. The Royals spent heavily at the IPL 2018 auction and I hope it pays off for them this year. They dropped their batting heavyweights and have gone in for a bowling-heavy squad for this season, including buying the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Ben Laughlin and Jofra Archer. Young afghan bowler Zahir Khan was injured, and Ish Sodhi was named his replacement.

Archer is a young English bowler that as impressed one and all in the recent CPL, BPL and then also the Big Bash in Australia. The death over specialist picked up 17 wickets (2nd highest) in this year’s Big Bash League, while Rajasthan also went on to buy the highest run scorer in that season, D’Arcy Short, who scored a massive 572 runs. Now, will these heroes on Australian pitches deliver in the subcontinent?

Rajasthan Royals Squad for IPL 2018:

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Sudhesan Midhun, Aryaman Birla, ~~Steven Smith,~~ D’Arcy Short, Rahul Tripathi, Jatin Saxena, Stuart Binny, Mahipal Lomror, Jaydev Unadkat, Dushmantha Chameera, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin, ~~Zahir Khan~~, Anureet Singh, Ankit Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Prashant Chopra, Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen, Ish Sodhi.

An important part of the top order will be Jos Buttler, who has impressed in the IPL in the past, purchased from the Mumbai Indians. While he will provide the fireworks, Ajinkya Rahane will provide stability at the top. Rahane has also been appointed as the new captain after Steve Smith’s ball tampering scandal during the test series in South Africa. His participation in IPL 2018 is in doubt at the moment.

IPL 2018 – Rajasthan Royals Team Preview

Rajasthan Royals Squad for IPL 2018:

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