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

Spinner- Krishnappa Gowtham

Gowtham appeals for an LBW

Krishnappa Gowtham too is a good lower order batsman, who bowls off-spin primarily. Gowtham can wield the willow to good effect and can score runs at a very quick rate. He's also a very versatile spinner who can bowl at all stages of the game. After initial struggles to live up to his hefty price tag, Gowtham got into his element and gave good performances with both the bat and the ball.

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Pacers- Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Aaron

Jaydev Unadkat

Jofra Archer will be RR's X-Factor once again as he will look to extend his tremendous T20 form into the IPL. Archer is likely to make it to England's World Cup squad and could miss the business-end of the tournament. He is the team's strike bowler and can be called upon to bowl at any stage of the match.

Unadkat has a huge weight of trust and price to bear on his shoulders after the RR management put faith in him and bought him for ₹8.4 Crore after his dismal outing last season where he picked up just 11 wickets at a poor economy of 9.65. His recent form has been good and he'll look to correct his previous mistakes.

Varun Aaron should be preferred over Dhawal Kulkarni as the latter had a poor IPL 2018. Also, he lacks the pace to make too much of an impact and while the side need an opening bowler, the ball is anyway not going to swing too much and that robs Kulkarni off his main weapon. Aaron looked in good form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy picking up 9 wickets in 5 matches and his pace and bounce can prove to be a differential for Rajasthan.

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