Former Indian team batter Mohammad Kaif has high hopes for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023), believing that they have the potential to reach the finals once again and potentially even win the tournament.
RR made it to the final in the 2022 season of IPL, but lost out to the Gujrat Titans. Kaif, who was part of RR’s winning side in the inaugural season of IPL in 2008, believes that the team has what it takes to go all the way in 2023, despite a major injury setback.
Rajasthan Royals’ Strong Squad
According to Kaif, RR is an extremely strong team on paper, with some standout players in their ranks. They have spin bowlers Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, and pace bowler Trent Boult, who is known for picking up wickets with the new ball.
The team suffered a setback with the injury to Prasidh Krishna, a main bowler last season, but Kaif is optimistic that RR might have found a replacement in swing bowler Sandeep Sharma, who was spotted at RR’s training camp in Jaipur.
Rajasthan Royals’ Impressive 2022 Season
RR had a season to remember in 2022, with the Jaipur franchise looking strong after a complete rebuild under captain Sanju Samson’s leadership. They finished second in the points table and made their way to the final thanks in large part to an all-time great season for English batsman Jos Buttler, who matched the record for most centuries in an IPL season (4) on his way to the Orange Cap.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was also in fine form, picking up the Purple Cap for the most wickets taken in the tournament. Other standout performers for the side included Ashwin, Boult, and captain Samson.
Sandeep Sharma as a Potential Replacement
The loss of Prasidh Krishna is undoubtedly a blow to RR’s bowling attack, which was one of the best in the IPL in 2022. However, the potential addition of Sandeep Sharma could help mitigate that loss.
Sharma is a swing bowler who has represented the Indian National Team in the past and played for the Punjab Kings in last year’s IPL. This will be his 11th season in the IPL, having made his debut in 2013.
While it hasn’t been confirmed yet whether Sharma will be signed as a replacement for Krishna, his appearance in RR’s training camp just a week before the start of the tournament suggests that it’s a strong possibility.
Conclusion
With an impressive squad on paper and the potential addition of Sandeep Sharma, RR certainly has the potential to go all the way in IPL 2023. However, there’s a lot of competition in the tournament, and every team will be looking to come out on top.
It will be interesting to see how the team performs in the upcoming season, and whether they can replicate their success from last year.
FAQ
Who is Mohammad Kaif and what is his connection to the Rajasthan Royals?
Mohammad Kaif is a former Indian team batter who was a part of RR’s IPL winning side in 2008.
What is the Rajasthan Royals’ track record in the IPL?
Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 but had not reached the final again until the 2022 season, where they finished as the runners-up.
Who are the key players for the Rajasthan Royals?
The Rajasthan Royals have a strong team, including Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jos Buttler, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, and Sanju Samson.
Who is the injured player on the Rajasthan Royals team?
Prasidh Krishna, a key bowler for the team, was ruled out of the upcoming IPL season due to a stress fracture.