IPL 2021: Rating the bench strength of each team

With the IPL 2021 happening on the most versatile of conditions, each team will now have to strenuously utilize their entire squad to fetch as triumphing results as possible. Unlike, the previous seasons where predominantly the franchises did prefer sticking upon a bunch of players, the IPL 2021 will now demand a more multifaceted formula from these teams to win consistently.

Such variations also mean that the entire bench strength now becomes handy and will play an extensive role in the IPL campaign of all franchises. However, too much chopping and changing might also disrupt the winning rhythm of any franchise, thus, eventually creating massive havoc in terms of their front-line playing XI. Hence, with the teams now also doing some extensive shopping for the much-awaited season, here’s rating-

Bench strength of each team in IPL 2021

Rajasthan Royals (7/10)

Probable Playing XI: Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson, Mahipal Lomror, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Shreyas Gopal, Karthik Tyagi, Andrew Tye.

Main Bench Strength Players: Jaydev Unadkat, Manan Vohra, Mayank Markande, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, Liam Livingstone, David Miller.

With a lot of reports now confirming that both Buttler and Stokes will be opening the innings along with skipper Samson at no three, the team then does has two genuine openers like Manan Vohra and Yashasvi Jaiswal as a cover for the top-order. Someone like Liam Livingstone can also be infused into the squad either at the top or in the middle-order especially when RR is playing matches at the flat decks. In case to cope up with some constraints in the lower-middle order, the in-form David Miller also looks like an alluring option and can be used at high-scoring venues.

But with the loss of Jofra Archer for the entire season, the entire bowling attack now gets highly dependent on Chris Morris and Andrew Tye, eventually leaving Mustafizur Rahman as the only overseas backup. In terms of local pacers, the RR camp still upholds the experience of Jaydev Unadkat along with the young Chetan Sakariya to back it up, but in the spin department, to accompany Shreyas Gopal, the squad barely possesses a name apart from Mayank Markande.

All in all, with a team that is playing a majority of its group matches on the flat pitches of Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, the RR camp does have some suitable backup options in the entire batting order. However, in terms of backup bowlers, the squad definitely looks underwhelming by only carrying some decent options.