Pressure on overseas players to impress at Steve Smith's Rajasthan Royals

IPL TEAM PREVIEW: With doubts around Ben Stokes' availability and a reliance on their overseas players, bookmakers have already cast off Rajasthan as outsiders for this year's competition. But that's how it was when they won the inaugural competition

Coach: Andrew McDonald

Captain: Steve Smith

Last season: Seventh

Fixtures: September 22 – Chennai Super Kings; September 27 – Kings XI Punjab; September 30 – Kolkata Knight Riders; October 3 – Royal Challengers Bangalore; October 6 – Mumbai Indians; October 9 – Delhi Capitals; October 11 – Sunrisers Hyderabad; October 14 – Delhi Capitals; October 17 – Royal Challengers Bangalore; October 19 – Chennai Super Kings; October 22 – Sunrisers Hyderabad; October 25 – Mumbai Indians; October 30 – Kings XI Punjab; November 1 – Kolkata Knight Riders

How did they do last year?

In a clustered group that saw just seven points separate all eight sides, Rajasthan Royals ultimately finished seventh.

Spinner Shreyas Gopal took 20 wickets to impress for Rajasthan, with only Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada and Deepak Chahar claiming more competition-wide. No one passed 400 runs, however.

Who are their key players?

Jos Buttler: One of the world’s premier white-ball cricketers, Andrew McDonald’s men need Buttler to fire at the top of the order. The England wicketkeeper-batsman has enjoyed a terrific summer across all formats and will want to continue that run in the UAE.

With a middle order featuring captain Steve Smith and the talented Sanju Samson, Buttler’s fireworks at the top of the order will be key.

Robin Uthappa: A new signing for Rajasthan, with Ajinkya Rahane having departed for Delhi Capitals, much will be hoped of Uthappa, who arrives from Kolkata Knight Riders.

“He has always been on our radar ever since he joined KKR and has performed exceedingly well for them over the past six seasons,” said Zubin Bharucha, Rajasthan’s head of cricket. Along with Smith and Samson, he will form part of the franchise’s engine room.

Jofra Archer: Archer was briefly due to miss this year’s competition due to an elbow injury, prior to the delayed caused by the coronavirus crisis.

However, following his return to fitness and the rearranged tournament, the England fast bowler will be at the heart of Rajasthan’s plans with the ball.

He took eleven wickets in the 2019 competition at an economy rate of just 6.76, some effort given that he bowled the majority of his overs in the powerplay and at the death.

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What are their strengths?

On paper, the strengths of Buttler, Smith and Archer hardly need analysing.

Beyond them, Yashasvi Jaiswal is a highly regarded teenager who has already starred on the international stage for India Under-19s, while Gopal has already shown the IPL what he can do and Samson has in the past displayed how dangerous a player he is. Rajasthan will hope that a change of franchise might reinvigorate Uthappa.

Where might they have a weakness?

Buttler, Smith and Archer apart, Rajasthan’s overseas players come with several caveats. Ben Stokes’ availability looks likely to be – at the very least – significantly reduced.

Oshane Thomas struggled for rhythm and fitness during the Caribbean Premier League, while David Miller’s IPL form has been sketchy in recent times. Tom Curran and Andrew Tye will likely fight it out for a seam bowling spot.

Chances of reaching knockout stages?

Much depends on the form of Buttler and Smith with the bat. If they fire, anything is possible, but that is some considerable pressure.

Strongest XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler(wk), Sanju Samson, Steve Smith(c), Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Jofra Archer, Tom Curran, Mayank Markande, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat

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