Rajasthan Royals stunned everyone by winning the inaugural edition of the IPL. Ever since that triumphant season, they have faced ups and downs both on and off the pitch. After 12 seasons they reached the final of the IPL 2022 but lost the match against Gujarat Titans. They are a team based in Jaipur and play their home matches at Sawai Mansingh stadium. They are often referred to as the “Moneyball” team of the IPL due to their approach to recruiting players. Over the years, Rajasthan Royals have been able to hone talented players like Ravindra Jadeja, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Gopal.
They have appointed skippers like Shane Warne and Rahul Dravid, who have taken young players under their stride and helped them gain confidence and experience. The team was suspended for 2 seasons from 2016 to 2017 on disciplinary grounds, but they made a good comeback in 2018 by reaching the playoffs. In Shane Watson, they have had one of the most valuable players in IPL history. Another feature of Rajasthan Royals’ policy in acquiring players is their eye for spotting talented foreign players like Kevon Cooper, Jofra Archer, James Faulkner and D’Arcy Short who had previously shone in other T20 leagues.
Now let's see the all-time best RR XI in Ipl history.
1. Ajinkya Rahane:
Ajinkya Rahane is one of the openers in this all-time RR XI. The Mumbaikar has been one of the most consistent batsmen for RR and is also their highest run-getter. Rahane has aggregated 2810 runs for RR at an average of 34.26, along with a decent strike rate of 122.65. The touch artist has shown that the T20 game is not only about brute force and power, and that runs can be scored at a brisk pace through proper timing and placement. Rahane has to his credit the most fifty-plus scores (19) for the Rajasthan outfit, which includes 2 centuries. His highest score is an unbeaten 105 against DC.
2. Jos Buttler:
Jos Buttler is the other opening batsman in this all-time XI. The Englishman would be responsible for providing the early impetus to the RR innings, while Rahane would be the steadying influence at the other end. Apart from opening the batting, Butler would also be performing the wicket-keeping duties for the franchise. Since 2018 he has scored 2304 runs for Rajasthan royals. In the 2022 Ipl, he was batting at a different level, he slammed 863 runs at an average of 57.53 in this Ipl thus becoming the second highest run scorer in a single edition of the IPL after virat kohli. He has scored 14 fifties and 5 for RR.
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3. Sanju Samson:
Sanju Samson would walk in at the fall of the first wicket. The Kerala batsman has won the hearts of many a cricket aficionado with his classy and effortless batting. Sanju Samson is the second-highest run-scorer among Indian batsmen for the Rajasthan outfit, only behind Rahane. He has accumulated 2849 runs for RR at an average of 32.67 and a strike rate of 140+ Samson, who has won a few matches for RR on his own, can also act as a backup wicket-keeper in case the need arises. He captained the RR side in IPL 2022 and took the team to the final.
4. Steve Smith:
Steve Smith would be the other specialist batsman in the RR middle-order. The Australian would be responsible for shepherding the Royals' innings in the middle overs. His excellent game against spin would hold him in good stead in this regard. Smith, given his lofty own standards, has not set the IPL alight, although he has come up with a few crucial match-winning innings. The unorthodox batsman has scored 759 runs for RR at an average of 33.00 at a modest strike rate of 125.24.
5. Shane Watson:
Shane Watson would play the principal all-rounder's role in this Royals' line-up. The Australian has been the x-factor for RR and had a huge role to play in their title-winning run in IPL 2008. The significance of Watson's contribution to RR can be gauged by the fact that he is both the second-highest run-scorer and the second-highest wicket-taker for the Rajasthan franchise. With the bat, he has gathered 2372 runs at an average of 36.49, and a strike rate of 141.27. He has been as successful with the ball in hand, having accounted for 61 wickets at a decent average of 27.88, along with an economy rate of 7.49. For his all-around performances, Watson has been awarded the 'Most Valuable of the IPL on two occasions, first in IPL 2008 and then again in IPL 2013. The former performance, 472 runs along with 17 wickets, went a long way in helping RR win their only IPL title in the inaugural edition of the league.
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6. Yusuf Pathan:
Yusuf Pathan would play the role of a finisher and a part-time off-spinner. The Baroda all-rounder struck an attacking half-century in the IPL 2008 final to almost single-handedly snatch the title from CSK's grasp. That performance deservedly won him the Man of the Match award in the inaugural IPL final. Overall, Pathan has scored 1011 runs for RR at an average of 26.60. But the talking point has been his strike rate of 161.24, the highest among all RR batsmen who have faced a minimum of 125 deliveries. Even with the ball in hand, the senior Pathan has 20 scalps to his credit for RR, at an average of 35.95 along with a decent economy rate of 7.39.
7. Ravindra Jadeja:
Ravindra Jadeja would play the spin-bowling all-rounder's role. The left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman from Saurashtra caught the eye of Shane Warne in the inaugural season of the IPL, with the Australian great proclaiming him the 'Rockstar' of the team. Although Jadeja did not set the IPL on fire while playing for RR, he gave enough indications of his talent with some match-winning innings and miserly spells. The young Jadeja scored 430 runs for RR at an average of 23.88 with a strike rate of 116.53. Even though he picked up just 6 wickets with the ball at an average of 28.66, he kept a tight leash on the batsmen, as suggested by his economy rate of 6.74.
8. Yuzvendra Chahal:
Yuzvendra Chahal would be one of the spinners in this all-time RR XI. After playing in RCB for 8 seasons he was signed by RR in the IPL auction. The leggie made a splash in Ipl 2022 with his consistent performances. He is undoubtedly one of the best spinners in the world, especially in the t20 format of the game. He clinched 27 wickets in IPL 2022 thus becoming the purple cap holder. He also took one hatrick against kkr. He took 27 wickets at an average of 19.52 and an economy of 7.75. His best figures are 5/40.
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9. Shane Warne:
Shane Warne would lead the RR spin attack. Unsurprisingly, having led RR to their only IPL title, the Australian spin wizard would also be at the helm of this hypothetical RR XI. With his ability to get the best out of talented youngsters, he would be the best option to captain the side. Apart from his captaincy credentials, Shane Warne had an excellent record for RR as a bowler as well. The wily leg-spinner accounted for 57 wickets at an average of 25.38 along with an economy rate of 7.27, the second-best among all Royals' bowlers with a minimum of 250 deliveries. This includes the 19 wickets he took in RR's title-winning run in IPL 2008.
10. Munaf Patel:
Munaf Patel would lead the RR pace attack in this all-time XI. The Baroda medium pacer would be an asset in the death overs with his clever changes of pace and the ability to bowl the yorker. Patel scalped 33 wickets for RR at an excellent average of 23.60, along with a decent economy rate of 7.57. He would lend the necessary experience to the RR pace attack in this all-time XI.
11. Siddharth Trivedi:
Siddharth Trivedi would be the final member of this RR XI. The Gujarat medium-pacer is the most prolific bowler for the Royals in the history of the IPL. Trivedi has accounted for 65 wickets for RR at an average of 29.29 with an economy rate of 7.58. He was also one of the success stories in the Rajasthan franchise's title-winning run in IPL 2008, accounting for 13 wickets. Jofra Archer and Sohail Tanvir, who have dished out commendable performances for RR, could fancy their chances to be included in this all-time XI. But with only 4 foreigners allowed in the playing XI, it would be difficult to accommodate them.
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