Yesterday we talked about the three most successful teams of the IPL and today is the time to discuss about the other teams and firstly are the winners of the first ever IPL season which are the Rajasthan Royals. Their auction strategy was like a movie which has been slow the entire time but when the end was near it realized that it needs to go fast so it does everything at the end, that is exactly what Rajasthan Royals did.
Rajasthan Royals are one of those teams who are always considered the underdogs in every season as they do not possess the big names that the other teams have got so they are always looked at as underdogs and mostly they thrive on that So, let’s discuss the auction strategy and do a team analysis of Rajasthan Royals.
Auction Strategy :
Going into the auction the Rajasthan Royals only had their top 3 with them as they had only retained the three batters in the team and they needed the rest of the batting order , all rounders and a good bowling attack so their task was cut out for them. Firstly they got Trent Boult from the marquee set and got a great bowler, then they picked up Devdutt Paddikal to be another top order option. They also bought Ravichandran Ashwin as an all rounder and very importantly they got Yuzvendra Chahal so Their sound attack was sorted but they needed 4 foreign players and at the very end of the auction they picked up 4 players in 4 minutes and set a record of sorts and they got some really good options like Rassie Van Der Dussen, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Coulter Nile so the team looks good at the end of it all.
Team Analysis
We will do a detailed SWOT analysis of this team going ahead but the general thought was that they have picked a good squad but with too many openers and some middle order players that were not worth that price so let’s now do a detailed analysis of Rajasthan Royals.
Strengths:
This team also has a lot of strengths, firstly they have a very good Indian core with then who play for India regularly, in the batting they have Devdutt Paddikal, Sanju Sanson and Yashasvi Jaiswal and in the bowlers they have Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and a fast bowling sensation in Prasidh Krishna who will lead their attack . Their overseas options are not had either with Jos Butter, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Trent Boult, Daryl Mitchell etc so they have a good core team with them.
Weaknesses:
A lot of top order options which would mean not a lot of game time for Yashasvi Jaiswal who they retained before the auction, some middle order players like Shimron Hetmeyer who add nothing to the team and their Indian fast bowling is weak if we remove Prasidh Krishna out of it and Riyan Parag is a weakness for them and they should have let him go.
Opportunities:
Their team is strong this year. This year they will not be great underdogs like they used to be before and they can have a crack to win the title as well this year Considering the team they have if they play to their potential this season. A lot of young players like Rassie Van Der Dussen, Devdutt Paddikal and Prasidh Krishna can prove to the world why they are among the best.
Threat:
Their threats are the other teams who will look to take advantage of their lack of Indian fast bowling which is weak and they will also look to take on Ravichandran Ashwin who is not such a great T20 bowker so the other teams can post big scores against Rajasthan Royals.
