IPL 2023: Players Rajasthan Royals could release ahead of mini-auction

Rajasthan reached the finals in last season [Source: IPLT20.COM]

Rajasthan Royals almost repeated their 2008 feat when they reached the finals of the Indian Premier League 2022.

The 'PINK' army as they say, were one of the strongest teams last season, but they failed at the final hurdle and lost the finale at the hands of Gujarat Titans.

RR boasts a strong squad, but every team needs repair work. Despite reaching the grand finale last season, the team management knows that there are key areas to improve for them. But before RR think about improving the squad, they need to release a few players so that the squad overhaul can take place accordingly.

So, let us analyse the players the Royals can release ahead of the retention date of November 15.

Devdutt Padikkal

Expectations were high when the Rajasthan Royals purchased the services of Devdutt Padikkal from the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The stylish southpaw was bought for a whopping INR 7.75 crore. But let's be honest, has Padikkal really lived up to the expectations? I guess the answer is a big no.

With huge price, comes a huge responsibility, and Padikkal has been buried under the burden of his price tag. The 22-year-old batter slammed 376 runs in 17 matches, at an average of 22.12. 

Generally he's an opener for his side, but with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler rocking at the top, Padikkal was shifted to number 3, which didn't suit his game-play at all. With the retention date coming closer, don't be surprised if Padikkal is released by the franchise. Imagine having 7.75 crore in your kitty....

Jimmy Neesham

Jimmy Neesham is a curious case for all the cricket lovers. An immensely talented player, Neesham has blown hot and cold throughout his career. An all-rounder is one who provides that stability (both with bat and ball), but that's not the case with Neesham. For some reason, the all-rounder has never been trusted and the numbers back this theory.

So far, Neesham has played 14 IPL matches in IPL, and has scored a mere 92 runs, at an average of just 10.22. 

The stats certainly don't justify his talent. Now let me through an interesting stat - RR purchased him for INR 1.5 crore, but he only managed to play 2 games. If RR really had faith in him, he would have played more games. This clearly indicates that the management are planning to release him ahead of the auction.

Daryl Mitchell

Surprised that Daryl Mitchell is included in the list? I understand that. With the kind of form Mitchell has been in for the past 12 months, you would have expected RR management to retain him ahead of the auction. But as they say, not all stories have a happy ending.

Purchased for INR 75 lakh, Mitchell played just 2 games in the entire season, and scored just 33 runs, at an average of 16.50. These are certainly not promising numbers for someone as talented as Mitchell.

Perhaps the Indian conditions never suited his style of play, but that's not an excuse to justify his inclusion. Moreover, he barely bowls nowadays and that goes against him. Don't be surprise if the team management decides to release the talented Kiwi batter ahead of the retention date.

Rassie van der Dussen

And the final name on this list is of Rassie van der Dussen. There are two school of thoughts when it comes to van der Dussen. One school says that he has the potential to be a terrific T20 batter, while the other says that he is not suitable for the shortest format of the game.

But that debate is for some other day. Bought for INR 1 crore, van der Dussen hasn't really lit up the tournament. It can be said that he never really got the opportunity which he deserved. The Proteas batter played just 3 games, scored a pain-staking 22 runs, and averaged just 11.

These are certainly not promising numbers for someone as talented as van der Dussen. RR can actually save 1 crore by releasing him and can invest it somewhere else to strengthen their squad.

Currently, RR have 24 players in their squad. If they release the above mentioned players, they'll be left with 20 players. Some big names will be released and as a result the Royals will have enough purse to buy some quality cricketers in their ranks.

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