IPL 2021 Preview: Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings goal for profitable begin to season
Another battle of big-hitters is on the playing cards when KL Rahul’s Punjab Kings tackle the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals, two line-ups dotted with expansive stroke-makers and in pursuit of a profitable begin to their IPL campaigns right here on Monday.
Rajasthan will likely be banking closely on their swashbuckling all-rounder Ben Stokes. Stokes will likely be eager to get some runs underneath his belt and so would be the likes of Englishman Jos Buttler and newly-appointed skipper Samson, who’s a mine-field of expertise.
The Royals may choose to open with the highly-rated Yashasvi Jaiswal and Buttler. While Samson, who could be itching to show some extent, and Stokes would then kind robust middle-order.
If the 4 fireplace on all cylinders, they will pummel any assault into submission and Punjab could be no exception on the Wankhede observe, which is normally batting-friendly.
Royals even have an a number of different choices at their disposal, together with all-rounders Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag and Liam Livingstone.
Gopal, Tewatia and Parag, all bowl leg-spin, so it will be fascinating to see whether or not the Royals choose to go in with two leg-spinners.
Tewatia and Dube have the power to whack the ball outdoors the park and look to be certainties within the taking part in XI.
With star pacer Jofra Archer lacking resulting from harm, the tempo assault must be led by Rajasthan’s latest recruit — South African all-rounder Chris Morris, who will likely be wanting to justify his big price ticket of Rs 16.25 crore.
RR must get their mixture proper as solely 4 foreigners could make the taking part in XI.
So, it is going to be fascinating to see whether or not Royals go for left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman or go in with both Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi or Chetan Sakariya.
Unadkat, together with his expertise, may get the nod.
On the opposite hand, Punjab boast of some hard-hitters like Rahul (670 runs in 2020 season), Mayank Agarwal (424 runs) and Chris Gayle.
Rahul and Agarwal shaped a deadly opening mixture in 2020 and would proceed to open.
They even have the likes of Englishman Dawid Malan, one of many most interesting T20 batsmen at present, hard-hitting Tamil Nadu batsman M Shahrukh Khan, and West Indian Nicholos Pooran.
For them too, it will be all about getting the mixture proper.
Shahrukh may get the nod forward of others like Deepak Hooda and Sarfaraz Khan, and will play the function of a finisher.
The bowling assault will likely be led by Mohammed Shami, who was excellent within the final version.
Their pacer line-up has been bolstered by the signing of Australian speedsters Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, who had a sensational Big Bash marketing campaign, and in addition contains Chris Jordan.
It stays to be seen who takes the brand new ball with Shami.
With their spin assault a priority, Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi must play their roles properly to include a devastating Rajasthan line-up.
Rajasthan Royals Squad: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Manan Vohra, Anuj Rawat, Riyan Parag, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Shreyas Gopal, Mayank Markande, Andrew Tye, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, KC Cariappa, Liam Livingstone, Kuldip Yadav, Akash Singh.
Punjab Kings Squad: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Prabsimran Singh, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Porel, Darshan Nalkande, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Jhye Richardson, Shahrukh Khan, Riley Meredith, Moises Henriques, Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Fabian Allen, Saurabh Kumar.
