IPL 2019: One key player for each team
The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin in less than a month from now and it is that time of the year when fans love to get a sneak peek of how this season could go for their favourite IPL teams.
The 2019 season of the league promises to be bigger than last year with a number of new entrants playing the league for the first time. The teams which looked weak last year have addressed their weakness and the strong teams have further consolidated their squad in the recently concluded auctions.
Also Read: IPL 2019 - Best all-rounder of each team
The teams which managed to reach the playoffs last year would be looking to repeat it this year as well while the teams which finished in the bottom half of the table would be looking for redemption.
The teams would be looking at few players to help them achieve their targets and each team has an X-Factor player who could prove to be the difference between the team winning and losing a number of matches.
#8 Rajasthan Royals - Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler is one of the most impactful players in world cricket in the shortest format of the game and his presence has been a huge boost for the English Cricket team. He has played an important role in transforming the England Cricket team into a dangerous side in ODIs and T20Is.
Buttler was not utilised properly by the Rajasthan Royals management for a large part of the IPL season last year. The team management wanted to utilise him as a finisher for the team but he struggled against spin and was a flop at the death overs.
Buttler's promotion to the top of the order worked wonders for the team at the end of the season and that was the main reason for the qualification of Rajasthan Royals to the play-offs stage of the tournament.
Buttler, at the top right from the start of the season, could be the biggest x-factor that Rajasthan will have this season. If he fires, the team might well make it to the play-offs stage of the tournament yet again.