Rajasthan Royals have once again started the league as underdogs and are finding it difficult to get going in the league. They bottled the game against Delhi Capitals after leading it till the half-way stage of the game. The Pink Army are up against Royal Challengers Bangalore who endured a last-ball defeat against Kings XI Punjab.
Rajasthan’s problems never seem to end. If opening batsmen perform, the middle order fails. If middle-order performs, the opening order doesn’t work. The bowlers have performed to the mark apart from the against Kings XI Punjab. Jofra Archer is leading the team front in the bowling who is ably supported by Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal. The team will look to put the act together and turn the tide.
In the reverse fixture, Rajasthan Royals were put to the corner in the Battle Royale. Apart from Jofra Archer, no other player showed the guts to bowl out the opposition. There are chinks in Rajasthan’s armoury which they have to address before they face RCB. Here are the top three picks for Rajasthan Royals at Dubai International Stadium.
#1) Sanju Samson
The Kerala lad has failed to perform consistently in the cash-rich league and his form has hit rock bottom. Since the first two games, Sanju Samson is unable to notch up even one half0-century and the poor tactics. Sanju Samson hasn’t been assigned a role or a batting position and that has changed frequently. However, he will be one of the top three picks for the Rajasthan Royals against RCB on Saturday.
Sanju Samson has always stood up for his side against Royal Challengers Bangalore apart from one or two games. He will look to repeat his swashbuckling game at Dubai International Stadium.
#2) Shreyas Gopal
One of the most fearsome leg-break bowlers, Shreyas Gopal hasn’t been effective as he was in the last two seasons. He has a hattrick against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past and will be one of the top three picks for Rajasthan Royals on Saturday. The nature of the pitch in UAE is changing slowly and has started assisting the spinners. Shreyas Gopal will look to make in-roads against his favourite opponents.
Shreyas Gopal was neutralized in the previous game by Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli and didn’t allow him to run down the order, In the reverse fixture, Shreyas Gopal has a big role to play.
#3) Jofra Archer
The England pacer removed Prithvi Shaw on the first ball in the previous game, putting pressure on Delhi Capitals. However, they failed to capitalize on the situation which allowed Delhi Capitals to put up a competitive total. Jofra Archer will be angry with himself as his colleagues allowed the match to slip from their hands.
Jofra Archer claimed the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal in the previous game against RCB but it was too late to make a comeback in the game. The pacer will look to give a deathblow to RCB in the reverse fixture in the early overs of the game.
