IPL 2022: 5 Players who can replace Nathan Coulter-Nile in RR squad

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have put together one of their strongest squads in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, covering most of their bases. There is a perfect combination of experienced and talented young players in the squad, who can help them to secure their second title after the inaugural edition in 2008.

However, RR have suffered a major setback with the Australian fast bowling all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile being ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a side strain that he sustained in the first league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Thereafter, he could not feature in the next two matches as well. The team management might be considering bringing a bowling all-rounder to fill the boots of Coulter-Nile.

5 Players who can replace Nathan Coulter-Nile in RR squad

1. Ben Cutting

The experienced all-rounder Ben Cutting has been a part of almost all the franchise leagues around the world and has featured in the IPL as well, and thereby will be at the top of this list to replace his fellow Australian cricketer. But, despite his fine performances in the T20 format, he remained unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction.

In 21 appearances in the IPL, Cutting has contributed 238 runs and scalped 10 wickets. His quickfire knock of 39* and two wickets for SRH in the IPL 2016 final helped the franchise lift their first-ever title.

In the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021, Cutting finished with 197 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 164.16 and is in sublime form.

2. Dasun Shanaka

Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain Dasun Shanaka has proved his skills over the years and has gradually become the backbone of the team. But he has not quite made the headlines due to his inconsistency and has not featured in the IPL as well. Although Shanaka marked his presence in the IPL 2022 mega auction, with his name in the list of 590 players, he could not get buyers in the accelerated rounds.

In the recent T20I series against India in late February, Shanaka was the leading run-scorer for the Sri Lankan team with 124 runs in three appearances. He displayed fine composure and delivered lusty blows at the end of the innings hammering the likes of Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, and Avesh Khan.

With the experience of playing in the T20 format since 2016, he is one of the candidates who is expected to get his due opportunity in the tournament after doing well in the Indian conditions this year.

3. David Wiese

The South-African national is very close to earning legendary status in the T20 format, due to his experience and performances. But, with most of the teams looking at a future prospect, David Wiese could not get any bids in the IPL 2022 mega auction.

Wiese has featured for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2015 and 2016 editions and has contributed 127 runs, and scalped a total of 16 wickets. Although he performed well he has not been able to get a chance to play in the tournament since 2017.

After representing South Africa from 2013 to 2016, Wiese began playing for Namibia in 2021 and helped the team to seal its place in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup held in the UAE in 2021. In the recently concluded PSL 2021, Wiese played a key role to help the Lahore Qalandars lift the title by scoring 168 runs and taking nine wickets in 13 matches. With this kind of form, he will surely be on the radar of the RR team management.

4. Hayden Kerr

The emerging young talent shot to fame in the Big Bash League 2021/22 after taking 25 wickets and scoring 152 runs for the Sydney Sixers. Hayden Kerr was certainly one of the reasons for the team reaching the finals as well. His best performance with the bat was 98* off 58 balls against Adelaide Strikers.

Hayden emerged as the best bowler for the Sixers and used the variations and his pace in a perfect manner to pick wickets in a consistent manner. He has the best bowling figures of 4/32, against Perth Scorchers, achieved in January 2022.

With Kerr in fantastic form in first-class cricket as well, he is making the right noises to get much-needed exposure to build his career and represent Australia across all the formats.

5. Colin De Grandhomme

The all-rounder is a permanent member of the New Zealand Test and ODI teams and is known to contribute with both bat and ball. He was also one of the registered players in the 2022 mega auction, but could not attract bidders and was missing in the accelerated round as well.

Colin de Grandhomme has featured in a total of 25 matches, scoring 303 runs and picking up six wickets while playing for KKR in 2017, and RCB in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the tournament. But his form dipped in early 2021 and he was dropped from the national side as well.

However, Grandhomme returned to Super Smash 2021/22, New Zealand’s premier T20 tournament, and hammered 240 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 143 and emerged as the leading run-scorer for his side, Northern Districts.