Rajasthan Royals is one of the most exciting teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with a rich history that includes winning the inaugural season of the tournament in 2008. In the upcoming TATA IPL 2023, the Royals will be led by Sanju Samson and will be looking to make their mark in the league once again.
Let’s take a look at the Rajasthan Royals history, current squad, strengths, weaknesses, form, and chances of winning this year’s IPL.
History
Rajasthan Royals had a great start to their IPL journey, winning the tournament in 2008. However, they have been inconsistent in the years since then, failing to make a mark until they reached the final in the 2022 season, where they faced defeat from the Gujarat Titans. This year, they will be looking to go one step further and win the tournament for the first time in 15 years.
Full Squad
The team have a good mix of experience and youth in their squad. They have retained their core group of players, including Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler, while also adding some new names to the mix.
Full squad of Rajasthan Royals :
- Kumar Sangakkara – Head coach
- Sanju Samson (c) – Batsman/Wicket-keeper
- Jos Buttler – Batsman
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Batsman
- R. Ashwin – Bowler
- Trent Boult – Bowler
- Shimron Hetmyer – Batsman
- Devdutt Padikkal – Batsman
- Riyan Parag – All-Rounder
- KC Cariappa – Bowler
- Sandeep Sharma – Bowler
- Yuzvendra Chahal – Bowler
- Navdeep Saini – Bowler
- Obed McCoy – Bowler
- Kuldeep Sen – Bowler
- Dhruv Jurel – Batsman/Wicket-keeper
- Kuldip Yadav – Bowler
- Jason Holder – All-Rounder
- Donovan Ferreira – All-Rounder
- Kunal Rathore – Wicket-keeper
- Adam Zampa – Bowler
- KM Asif – Bowler
- Murugan Ashwin – Bowler
- Akash Vashisht – All-Rounder
- Abdul PA – All-Rounder
- Joe Root – Batsman
Here is their strongest XI:
- Jos Buttler (wk)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sanju Samson (C)
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Riyan Parag
- Jason Holder
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Trent Boult
- Navdeep Saini/Kuldeep Sen
- Yuzvendra Chahal
X-Factor
Trent Boult is an X-factor player for the Royals, with his left-arm pace being a threat to any right-handed opening batsman. He has also gained valuable experience in the past year through freelancing. Shimron Hetmyer is another X-factor player, with his ability to finish the innings with a high strike rate in the last five overs.
Strengths
The strength of the team lies in their top order, with Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson being polished and international-level batters. The team’s bowling attack is also one of the best in the IPL 2023 on paper, with a good mix of experience and youth.
Weaknesses
The team lacks a big all-rounder who is known to finish games. They will have to give opportunities to Jason Holder to see if he fits this bill. The team may also have a problem of plenty in the bowling department, with too many options available to choose from.
Form
The team have a strong squad on paper and has the potential to win the tournament. However, their inconsistency in the past may hinder their chances. Their form coming into the tournament will also be a factor, and the team will need to work on building team chemistry to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Chance of Winning
It is difficult to predict how the team will fare in the TATA IPL 2023, given their inconsistent performances in the past. However, they have a strong squad and if they can build team chemistry and play to their potential, they have a chance of winning the tournament. Ravi Ashwin will be the leading wicket-taker for the Royals, while Sanju Samson will be the top scorer for the team. The team may end up at number 5 or number 6 in the table, but if they can find their form and consistency, they could surprise everyone and go all the way.
Schedule
The Rajasthan Royals have a tough schedule in the IPL 2023, with some big matches against strong teams. They will play their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 2nd in Hyderabad, followed by matches against Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Their last league match will be against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on May 19th.
Rajasthan Royals schedule for IPL 2023 is as follows:
| Match | Date | Teams | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 2 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM IST |
| 2 | April 5 | Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings | Guwahati | 7:30 PM IST |
| 3 | April 8 | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals | Guwahati | 3:30 PM IST |
| 4 | April 12 | Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Chennai | 7:30 PM IST |
| 5 | April 16 | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM IST |
| 6 | April 19 | Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants | Jaipur | 7:30 PM IST |
| 7 | April 23 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals | Bengaluru | 3:30 PM IST |
| 8 | April 27 | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Jaipur | 7:30 PM IST |
| 9 | April 30 | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals | Mumbai | 7:30 PM IST |
| 10 | May 5 | Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans | Jaipur | 7:30 PM IST |
| 11 | May 7 | Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Jaipur | 7:30 PM IST |
| 12 | May 11 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | Kolkata | 7:30 PM IST |
| 13 | May 14 | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | Jaipur | 3:30 PM IST |
| 14 | May 19 | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Dharamsala | 7:30 PM IST |
The Rajasthan Royals have a strong squad and a mix of experience and youth that can help them succeed in the TATA IPL 2023. However, they will need to work on building team chemistry and consistency to ensure that they make their mark in the tournament. With a tough schedule ahead, the Royals will need to be at their best to make it to the playoffs and ultimately win the trophy.
Read more:
- IPL 2023 – Chennai Super Kings Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Delhi Capitals Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Gujarat Titans Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Kolkata Knight Riders Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Lucknow Super Giants Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Mumbai Indians Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Punjab Kings Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
- IPL 2023 – Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview: Full Squad, Strength, Weakness, Schedule and more
