IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Rajasthan Royals

RR in IPL 2020: Opportunities

Who will step up in the absence of Ben Stokes?

#1 As always, RR can promote young Indian talent

In Kartik Tyagi, Akash Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal, RR have three stars from the 2020 U-19 World Cup. Apart from them, they can also call upon the services of all-rounder Riyan Parag and wicket-keeper Anuj Rawat.

RR have a solid core of young Indian players in all departments, and like always, can play a major role in their development.

#2 Players can step up in the absence of Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is expected to miss a significant part of IPL 2020 owing to personal reasons, although RR haven't released any official statements regarding the same. In his absence, many players such as Riyan Parag, Tom Curran and David Miller will have the opportunity to step up to the plate.

Stokes is the centrepiece around which this RR team has been built, and only positive that can be drawn from his absence is that other players, especially the young Indian ones, will get opportunities.

#3 Low expectations could bring the best out of RR

Various experts and former cricketers have written off RR, claiming that the team doesn't have the depth or strength to challenge for the IPL 2020 title. The expectations are always low surrounding RR due to their status as a low-profile franchise, but in the absence of Stokes and Ajinkya Rahane (who was traded to the Delhi Capitals), no one expects the team to go very far in the tournament.

However, like always, RR could manage to exceed expectations and their players could do well without massive price tags and heavy expectations hovering over them. The youngsters will be able to express themselves, while the more experienced players will also have freedom in IPL 2020.

This is in sharp contrast with many other IPL 2020 teams like the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who come into this edition highly fancied despite their poor track records.