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Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008, but the squad in pink has had a dry run since then. They've made the playoffs three times since their 2008 triumph but haven't been able to recreate their achievements from the initial season. Rajasthan Royals decided to retain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal. They have fared well after the auction, and let's have a look at what will be their playing XI for IPL 2022. So now, with the kind of squad the team has got, what could be the probable XI for Rajasthan Royals (RR) for IPL 2022? Let's find out.
Openers: Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal
Having retained both these players on the back of quality performances in the previous edition of the IPL, there seems to be no confusion about who will be opening the innings for RR. Jos Buttler, from one end, will make sure that he does not lose his wicket, whereas Jaiswal would look to take a few calculated risks in the first six overs of the game.
Middle Order: Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer
In the middle Order, Devdutt Padikkal will occupy the No.3 slot. He was very impressive in IPL 2021, having scored 411 runs in the 14 matches he had played for RCB, at the top of the Order. Although he wouldn't get to open in RR, he will surely look to control the game and bring back the momentum when he gets in to bat after the fall of a wicket.
Sanju Samson, who will be leading the team, will be the team's next batsman. His job would be to understand the situation and play according to the scoreboard pressure. He was the leading run-scorer for RR in the previous edition of the IPL. Samson had played 14 matches in which he scored 484 runs.
Shimron Hetmyer will come in at No.5. This position will suit Shimron Hetmyer as he will get a bit of time to settle in and then go for the big shots, which he is very capable of. RR has bought Hetmyer for 8.50 crore and wants him to play with a healthy strike rate and add some crucial runs in the team's tally.
All-rounders: Riyan Parag and James Neesham
RR has shown a lot of trust in the young player from Assam, who had failed to deliver in IPL 2021. Parag's role in the team will change according to the situation. He can be promoted up the order if the team loses early wickets and can also be demoted if the unit needs some quick runs. He can also be helpful with the bowl.
James Neesham will be given the job of finishing the innings on a good note and would also be asked to deliver with the ball in hand sometimes. Neesham is an experienced guy who knows how to handle pressure well and never disappoint the team.
Bowlers: Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna and Yuzvendra Chahal
Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal will be handling the spin bowling department. They will have the role of making sure that they bowl with a great economy rate and chip in some wickets if the pacers aren't able to do it.
Trent Boult will have the responsibility of giving the team early breakthroughs. We will see him bowling 2-3 overs at the start of the game itself. As seen in the previous edition, he has the pace and the swing in his bowling which can trouble the batsman in the beginning of the game.
Prasidh Krishna will have a role to end the innings well and make sure that he doesn't leak a lot of runs.