IPL 2022 | Overseas players who could replace Nathan Coulter-Nile at Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals were brilliant in the mega auction ahead of the 15th season of the lucrative league. The Rajasthan based franchise assembled a squad full of superstars to win the 2022 IPL Title. The Royals retained some of the budding names in the circuit [Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler and Yashavi Jaiswal] and then went on to add the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Nathan Coulter-Nile to its ranks. 

This core of players has made the franchise one of the most daunting teams for the title, but Coulter-Nile getting ruled out of the season has somewhat hampered the team's composition. 

Over the years, the Australian has made a name for himself by performing year by year in the Indian T20 extravaganza and all across the globe as well. But, unfortunately, he picked up a side strain and was forced out of the remaining edition.

The 34-year old has pertained to many injuries during his career and this looks like another big hurdle the bowling all-rounder will have to overcome. If he is ruled out of the tournament, the Royals will have a lot to think about, as he was a sure shot name in the XI. As a result, Rajasthan will have to search for an overseas star all-rounder or someone who could fit in the lower order to balance them as a unit.

Here are five options that we think will indeed be looked at:-

Moises Henriques: The Australian all-rounder is one of those players who can bat at any position in the middle order and chip in a few overs with the ball. Henriques seems to be the perfect replacement for Marsh because of the similar skill sets that the two possess. Moises has been a delight to watch in the BBL for the past few years; he has been a part of the previous three finals of the league, winning two of them. The 35-year-old was the highest runs scorer for his team in the last edition of the BBL.

Colin de Grandhomme: The New Zealand all-rounder has been consistent with both bat and ball in the international and domestic circuits. He was the highest run-scorer for Northern Districts in the recently concluded Super Smash. Colin's stats in the shortest format for New Zealand might be below average, but the player can surely step up if given an opportunity. The 35-year-old will provide RR with a great option lower down the order.

Dasun Shanaka: The Sri Lankan limited-overs skipper Dasun Shanaka is another exciting name on the list. Shanaka was the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in the T20I series against host India earlier this year. He is known for his ability to adapt to different situations and take his team through, a player of his calibre will surely please skipper Samson and coach Kumar Sangakkara. While Shanaka might not be that big a name, his recent performances will surely force Rajasthan to consider him a replacement option.

David Wiese: The South Africa born all-rounder has the experience of playing in all major T20 leagues across the globe. Wiese has a decent average with both bat and ball in the game's shortest format. The Namibian International has been a consistent performer in IPL; he averages over 30 and has a strike rate of over 140. His bowling average is just a touch over 25, which sums him up as a player. The 36-year-old would be a great addition to the RR camp as he will bring in tons of experience and the ability to win games on his own.

Ben Cutting: The Australian all-rounder is a global superstar thanks to his performances all across the globe in T20 leagues. Ben might have played just a few games for the Australian team, but he is a top T20 player who can provide explosive power in the death overs and chipping with the ball in the middle overs. His ability in the field is second to none, and the 35-year-old had an excellent PSL season which suggests that he would be on the list despite being unsold in the mega auction at the base price of 75 Lakhs.