IPL 2018: Team of the Week 2

Samson will have to keep the runs flowing for the Royals

#4 Sanju Samson

In a tough week for the Rajasthan Royals, one man proved to be the silver lining for the first-ever champions of the IPL. Sanju Samson's career began with this franchise in 2013 and five years on, he finally seems to be coming on his own for the side.

On Sunday, against the Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), the right-hander smashed a sublime 92 off 45 balls, hitting the ball to all corners of the Chinnaswamy Stadium and setting up a target beyond reach for the RCB.

The value of his batting contributions to the team's cause was seen on Friday when he the rest of the side capitulated after he fell for a mere 2 against the Chennai Super Kings.

In a line up studded with the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and others, Samson has clearly stood up as the stand out player for the side and the Royals will want him to keep delivering in the same manner in the future games.

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#5 Nitish Rana

At the beginning of the season, few gave the Kolkata Knight Riders any chance to compete with the others in the competition, but away from the spotlight, the Dinesh Karthik-led side have been quietly hitting the right notes in the competition thus far.

One of the emerging stars for them has been left-hander Nitish Rana, who scored a 35-ball 59 in the big win over the Delhi Daredevils and backed that with a 27-ball 35 in the seven-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals.

While the Indian limited-overs team might be a very tough place to find a spot in at present, there is no doubting that if Rana keeps putting in the performances he will find himself in the reckoning sooner or later.