IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Rajasthan Royals

RR in IPL 2020: Weaknesses

Steve Smith has perhaps too many top-order batsmen

#1 RR might have to play many batsmen out of position

A drawback of having so many quality top-order batsmen is that some of them will inevitably have to play out of position. While Buttler's role is all but secured, Jaiswal's success in the opener's role and his inexperience at other positions will probably make him the other opener.

Robin Uthappa and Sanju Samson, both of whom have had success opening the innings in the IPL, will have to move lower down the order. The former, in particular, didn't enjoy batting in the middle order for the Kolkata Knight Riders, and will have to adapt immediately to his new position.

Even Steve Smith might have to drop to No. 4, and this is largely due to the absence of too many solid middle-order batsmen. Playing batsmen out of position has majorly hurt teams like the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past, and RR will have a job on their hands to nullify this weakness.

#2 RR are too dependent on their overseas contingent

Again a weakness that is derived from a strength, RR might be overly dependent on their overseas contingent to produce the goods. Even if one of their four front-line overseas players are removed, the 2008 IPL champions look very thin in that department.

RR will need to make sure that they perform well as a team in IPL 2020, rather than relying on the individual brilliance of their foreign players.

#3 RR lack variety in their spin attack

RR have a number of leg-spinners in Rahul Tewatia, Mayank Markande and Shreyas Gopal, apart from the mystery spin of Riyan Parag and the left-arm spin of Mahipal Lomror. They also possess part-time options in Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shashank Singh and Anirudha Joshi, but RR's main tweakers are all leg-spinners.

Tewatia, Gopal and Markande are all very similar spinner as well, as they rely majorly on their googly to get them wickets. RR's spin attack for this year's IPL could have done with a full-time off-spinner or left-arm spinner.

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