IPL 2021: Strength and weakness of each team ahead of UAE leg

8. Rajasthan Royals

Strength- Availability of Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone

Once again the void of not having Ben Stones will be a big setback for the RR team but the availability of the above two in-form batters is surely a big plus point. While Jos Buttler’s T20 batting form has been impressive throughout the year 2021, the at present batting heroics from Livingstone make him now a very lofty proposition in the dugout. 

His current powerful deft touch of taking every bowler to cleaners will certainly dwell him a place in RR’s grim middle-order where even skipper Samson’s form now has become topsy-turvy. Perhaps with the likes of Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube and Rahul Tewatia also being in a long due to produce a match-winning knock, the presence of the above two in-form batters surely looks like a big bonus. 

Weakness- Problems in the spin bowling department 

In the first half of IPL 2021, Shreyas Gopal had an atrocious time especially when his leg-spin bowling was spilling runs at an economy of above 12. In the two games so far, the leg-spinner had looked completely ordinary compared to his performances in previous seasons.

Unfortunately, with his place getting ceased, the RR team management had decided to pursue an extra seamer that eventually made the likes of Rahul Tewatia and Riyan Parag the mere two other spin bowling options available.

However, now with the IPL moving to the UAE, the spinners will again surely come at the fore and if the RR team decides to discard Gopal then there aren’t many spin options available for them. Besides Shreyas Gopal’s leg-spin, RR does has the presence of Mayank Markande, but even he hasn’t played any IPL game since the 2019 season. 

And with the constant change in the conditions and venues, surely the duo of Parag and Tewatia are not well equipped to fulfill spin bowling duties in UAE. Hence, the RR management certainly is in dire straits if Gopal’s malfunction continues.