IPL 2020: 3 factors that can aid Rajasthan Royals in capturing their second title

#2 Ben Stokes needs to come to the party

Ben Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes turned most things he touched into gold in the second half of 2019. He won the World Cup for England, and then played the innings of a lifetime at Headingley to lift his side to a miraculous win in the Ashes Test.

At the start of 2020, Stokes took three wickets in 14 balls to lead England to victory over South Africa in the Newlands Test. Considering the magical form that he is in, the Royals will have high hopes from the Englishman.

The 26-year-old though has an underwhelming IPL record, and hence will be under pressure to prove a point. In 2018, he scored 196 runs in 13 matches and claimed eight wickets. There wasn’t much improvement in the 2019 edition - 123 runs in nine matches and just six wickets.

However, Stokes has been a different player before and after IPL 2019. The confidence that he has displayed in extremely tough circumstances, against all odds, has been exceptional.

It is this Stokes that needs to turn up for the Royals this year.