Last year, in IPL 2022, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) reached only their second IPL final, but failed to clinch their second IPL trophy, losing the final to Gujarat Titans.
The Sanju Samson-led franchise has bolstered their squad in the IPL 2023 auction by buying the likes of Jason Holder (INR 5.75 crore), Donovan Ferreira (INR 50 lakh), Adam Zampa (INR 1.5 crore), KM Asif (INR 30 lakh), Murugan Ashwin (INR 20 lakh), and even Joe Root (INR 1 crore).
Of course, most of all of their new buys will be on the bench in RR’s strongest XI at the start of the tournament because RR have retained their core and most of the players who were a regular feature of their teams last season.
Rajasthan Royals will kick-start their IPL 2023 campaign on April 2nd, against SRH.
Here is the predicted strongest XI of RR for IPL 2023:
Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler
Both the RR openers – Jos Buttler, the Orange Cap winner of IPL 2022, and Jaiswal, the young left-handed rookie – come into the IPL 2023 with brilliant form – Buttler in international cricket has been terrific while Jaiswal has risen further in domestic cricket plundering big runs in all formats.
Middle-order: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer
The trio of Samson, Padikkal, and Hetmyer form a strong middle-order for RR, who showed commendable flexibility in their batting order last season, sending the number – Samson or Padikkal – according to who was dismissed earlier between Jaiswal and Buttler to continue with the left-right combination.
Both Samson and Padikkal were impressive in their rapid starts and playing with intent, while Hetmyer had his best IPL season last year.
The IPL 2023 is again very important for Samson who will want to be back in India’s white-ball teams.
All-rounders: Riyan Parag, Jason Holder/Obed McCoy
From last IPL to this year’s season, Riyan Parag has grown in stature, performing the role of a batting all-rounder in domestic cricket, and doing it with impressive effectiveness.
Jason Holder, the most expensive signing for RR in the IPL 2023 auction, has been bought to provide balance to the side which seemed lopsided last season at times, mostly seeming a batter short. Holder’s inclusion, though, could mean that Obed McCoy, who made a good impression in IPL 2022, especially in the middle and death overs, would be on the bench.
Bowlers: R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Trent Boult
With Prasidh Krishna ruled out of the IPL 2023 due to injury, Kuldeep Sen, who left a good impression last season with his pace, movement, and bounce he can generate with his height, is a likely starter in the first match.
Rest, Ashwin, Chahal, and Boult will form the core of their bowling attack.
Rajasthan Royals’ strongest XI for IPL 2023:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Jason Holder, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Trent Boult
Rajasthan Royals Full Squad for IPL 2023:
Sanju Samson (c & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Jos Buttler (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Sen, Kuldip Yadav, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, KC Cariappa, Jason Holder, Donovan Ferreira (wk), Kunal Rathore, Adam Zampa, KM Asif, Murugan Ashwin, Akash Vashisht, Abdul PA, Joe Root.
