IPL 2020: 3 overseas players Rajasthan Royals could target at the auction
Rajasthan Royals have always known to back young talent. Ever since the inception of the IPL in 2008, a season where they won the coveted trophy, the franchise has looked to give chances to young players to make a mark on the big stage.
Since 2008, Rajasthan Royals have qualified for the playoffs on three occasions but have not been able to make it to the finals. The year 2019 was not a successful one for them and they finished second last on the points table.
Their first choice overseas players consisting of Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer are match-winners on their day and established superstars at the international level. However, once the said players had to return back to their countries for international duties, the team struggled.
It is important for Rajasthan Royals to identify and acquire substitutes for the said players, as an injury or an early return for any of them in 2020 might again hurt their chances.
On that note, here is a look at three players who the Rajasthan Royals could target at the auction.
#1 Alex Hales
Alex Hales is an explosive batsman at the top of the order who can get the team off to a flying start. Hales, who was initially a part of England's 2019 World Cup squad, was handed a 21-day suspension as he failed a drug test and thereafter could not make it to the squad for the mega event.
Hales is a very good T20 player and can be a perfect replacement for Liam Livingstone. Livingstone played four matches for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2019 and scored only 71 runs at an average of 23.66.
Hales, who has played just one IPL season - in 2018 for Sunrisers Hyderabad - has 145 runs to his name in 6 matches. He has proved himself in limited overs cricket in the past and he has an impressive strike rate of 136.66 and average of 31.02 in 60 T20 internationals.
Hales is not a part of the English Test squad and is likely to be available for the entire IPL season. That is another reason why Rajasthan Royals should bid for him in the 2020 IPL auction.
Also see – T10 schedule