Rajasthan Royals is all set to release their current skipper Steve Smith ahead of IPL auctions which will be held in 2021. As per the latest reports all the franchise has been asked to submit the list of retained players till December 20th 2020.
Based on Smith’s performance in recently concluded IPL 2020 he is likely to be released for the upcoming season as he failed to deliver both as a batsman and as a leader.
Taking about his performance in last IPL he started with couple of fifties taking his side to register victories against Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab at the Sharjah Cricket stadium. The right hander ace batsman got couple of single digits score too during the entire IPL and ended his campaign with 311 runs at an average and strike rate of 25.91 and 131.22 respectively.
As per the reports from ESPN Cricinfo, the franchise have asked Royals to retain those players who have done well for them in last season also Smith as a leader also failed in IPL 2020 despite getting good start they were unable to capitalize the momentum eventually they failed to register the berth for playoffs.
If the Royals release Smith, they would be in a conundrum of selecting a new skipper. And they can make someone like Sanju Samson to lead the team in his place as the wicketkeeper-batsman is leading Kerala team in the ongoing Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy.
It is certainly evident that the franchise who won the first season of cash rich league under the amazing leadership of Shane Warne has not been able to replicate the same performance again in IPL history till date.
