5 Players Rajasthan Royals should release before IPL 2020 Auction

Rajasthan Royals culminated their horrendous and forgettable IPL 2019 campaign on 4th April. After their early struggles, the team did show some signs of improvement under Steve Smith, but luck was never on their side. Although RR did have some positive to look at, they were largely overshadowed by the poor performance of seasoned campaigners.

The team management would have expected experienced players to perform and the younger lot to assist them, however, the case proved to be just the opposite. Young guns like Riyan Parag, Shreyas Gopal, and Sanju Samson were extraordinary. The experienced players, the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, even Jaydev Unadkat couldn’t make a defining contribution for the team. In fact, even failed to play second fiddle when that was all they needed to do.

Since their readmission, RR have been ordinary at best, thus to change fortunes next season they need to make some tough calls, release some players and form a better combination.

1. Ben Stokes

Stokes has turned out to be the biggest disappointment for RR in the last 2 seasons. His superb contribution when he was at the Rising Pune Supergiant helped him fetch a bid of 12.50 crores in IPL 2018 auction. But he could not replicate that performance even partially. The management continued to show faith in Stokes and retained him for the 2019 season as well, but he could hardly make it count.

Therefore, the time has for RR to look beyond him and invest in a more sustainable talent. Their basic principle of trusting the young guns has paid off more often than not and the Royals should try to find a similar talent in the all-rounder’s slot as well. Doing away with Stokes will also free up quite a lot of purse value as well.

2. Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev is another ex-RPS player who has disappointed the Royals in the last 2 seasons. He was also given a massive contract worth Rs 11.50 crores in IPL 2018 but could only return with 11 wickets in 15 matches. The southpaw was released from the team ahead of the auction and bought again at a lower price this time Rs 8.40 crores still quite a premium price to pay.

Given his experience and the angles, a left-arm pacer creates, he was expected to play dual role at the start of the innings and the death as well, but the overall value of his contribution was literally nothing. Unadkat only took 10 wickets in 11 games and had an unacceptable economy of 10.66.

It is high time Rajasthan Royals find a replacement for Unadkat who with the pressure of the price tag has been grossly underperforming. 

3. Ashton Turner

Turner came into this tournament with a reputation of being a hard hitter and the added confidence having smashed a match-winning 43-ball-84 against the Indian team. But it turned out to be a horrendous season for him. The season for him started with three consecutive golden ducks. He was then even unsure of a place in the side.

The Australian did finally register his maiden IPL runs on the board but the contribution was still not substantial enough. Although he didn’t get as many opportunities, the Royals already have a lot of foreigners in their team. Also, the success of Riyan Parag proves their original mantra is the way forward.

Thus Ashton Turner might fall out of RR’s longterm plans and be back in the auction pool next season.

4. Manan Vohra

Manan Vohra was just there warming the bench throughout the tournament. This was due to the multiple batting superstars in the batting department and at no point was there an opportunity for Vohra to be drafted in. The Royals have a pretty heavy batting line irrespective of the performance and thus keeping someone with his experience in the side and still on the sideline isn’t fair.

The Punjab-born player would be better off with a franchise that actually sees him as a part of the initial playing XI. For their own good and for the player RR should rather release Vohra and instead use that slot for a bowler. 

5. Dhawal Kulkarni

Dhawal Kulkarni proved to be another experienced name in the side that underperformed. He was bought by Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018 for Rs 75.00 lakhs and they used the RTM card to retain him in the side. Kulkarni’s show in the previous edition was anything but convincing. He could just pick 4 wickets from 8 matches and had the economy at almost 9.50.

His performance deteriorated even further as the pacer could scalp just 6 wickets from 10 matches and conceded 9.57 runs per over. These are figures a part-time bowler can do away with but not a front line bowler who is expected to strike. They should instead invest in a bowler who can get them wickets at the top and stop the flow of runs in the death as well.

With Dhawal and Unadkat both failing to fire, RR only looked up at Jofra Archer for wickets and this wasn’t a trick too tough to crack for the opposition. What the Royals need is a wicket-taker preferably an Indian talent.

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