IPL 2019: Five players Rajasthan Royals might release after this season

#2 Ben Stokes

Stokes was effective only as a fielder this season (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com/BCCI)

The most expensive buy at the auction in the history of the Rajasthan Royals, Ben Stokes, failed to live up to the price tag of INR 14 Crore last season and was set to be released but the team kept faith in him and retained him for this season. However, he had an even poorer season than last time around and the management’s patience might have run out.

Stokes managed to make just 123 runs and pick up 6 wickets in 9 games and though his fielding was top notch, it doesn’t seem to be enough to save his spot in the side. The slowness of the Jaipur track and the long line of batsmen ahead of him meant that Stokes didn’t have enough time to get set and score runs with the bat.

He always found away games easier and even there, his shot selection was pretty questionable and a much better performance should have come from him. With the ball, he was pretty expensive and was taken for runs by most batsmen who faced him and had an economy rate of 11.22.

Releasing Stokes will free up an enormous amount of money for the side to purchase other players in the auction and it’s about time RR found a new marquee player and this might result in Stokes being released.