IPL 2019: RR's strongest playing XI for their first game against KXIP

Middle Order- Sanju Samson, Steve Smith and Rahul Tripathi

Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi

The RR middle order looks stable with the presence of players such as Smith and Sanju Samson. Due to Smith's presence, RR can mix things up in the middle order.

Samson will be one to watch out for. He should certainly face a lot of deliveries and should bat at No.3 if Rahane opens. If he's settled in, he can be a menace to the opposition with his well-timed hits to the fence and elegant gap-finding strokes.

Smith is a world-class player with adequate T20 experience and has played a few brilliant knocks in the IPL. He will take some time to find his feet but he has the talent to cause all sorts of trouble for the bowling side.

Tripathi looked uncomfortable in his batting position at No.6 but he has to adjust due to the circumstances in the team. He can walk in to bat a bit early if the situation warrants aggression and it all comes down to how Rahane employs himself as far as the batting order is concerned.

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