‘Arguably had the best possible spin twin available with you’ - Aakash Chopra analyses RR spin combo
RR signed Wanindu Hasaranga to replace Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin.
Rajasthan Royals qualified for the playoffs twice in the last three editions of the Indian Premier League. In the 2022 season, they qualified for the final but lost to Gujarat Titans in the summit clash. They finished fifth in the 2023 season and in 2024, the Sanju Samson-led side played some phenomenal cricket in the first half of the season but struggled in the second, but managed to play Qualifier 2 where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Their last cycle can be considered to be a successful one but Rajasthan interestingly decided to release a few of their key players Jos Buttler, Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal. Notably, the leg-spinner formed a deadly spin combination with R Ashwin in the last three seasons and to replace them, Rajasthan signed the Sri Lankan duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.
Analysing the RR squad, former cricketer Aakash Chopra stated that the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur may suit the new spinning duo and believes that Rajasthan’s tactics were right. However, he wasn’t entirely happy with the 2008 champions releasing both Ashwin and Chahal.
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“They have managed the lower-order issue they had, but they had Yuzi Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin. You had arguably the best possible spin twin available with you but you let both go. You didn't retain either of them, and that means you had to go shopping,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“They picked overseas spinners - Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. I am thinking that the Jaipur ground, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, might actually suit them. It's a big ground, but two overseas spinners, unless their names are Sunil Narine and Rashid Khan. So you think twice if this tactic is right,” he added.
Chopra also briefly talked about Theekshana and Hasaranga’s injury concerns. The former opener noted that the RR need them to be fit, or else it can be a worrying sign for them.
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