Moneyball No More: RR Bolsters India’s Cricket Talent

 'Moneyball' No More, RR Boosts India's Talent Pool

Despite faltering at the end of IPL 2024, RR’s class of 2022-24 produced significant talent for Indian cricket.

Should they have batted first? Would it have helped if Yashasvi Jaiswal stayed longer to face Sunrisers Hyderabad's left-arm spinners? What if Shimron Hetmyer batted before Ravichandran Ashwin? Should Sanju Samson have tried to clear the long boundary? These questions will haunt Rajasthan Royals players after their IPL 2024 elimination on Friday.

Rajasthan Royals' Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot. (AFP)

By collapsing on a Chennai turner in Qualifier 2, the first IPL champions missed a chance to end their title drought. They also squandered one of the best starts a team can have in this competitive T20 league.

Many current Royals will be split by the mega auction before the next season. But the 2022-24 squad achieved a lot together for themselves and Indian cricket. There was a time when RR were a budget team, unable to afford big Indian players. Not anymore. Three RR players – Sanju Samson, Jaiswal, and Yuzvendra Chahal – are in India’s squad of 15 for the T20 World Cup. Four, if you include reserve Avesh Khan.

Key Players and Their Contributions

A lot of players have excelled under RR’s guidance. If Jaiswal is the chosen opener for India, it’s because of his IPL 2023 performance with Jos Buttler. He then had a great 700-run Test series against England. Jaiswal – 435 runs, SR 155.91 – wanted more consistency this IPL but kept his aggressive powerplay approach. This makes him a valuable T20 player.

If Samson reaches his potential in international cricket, he’ll owe it to RR. They saw leadership in him at 25 when his batting was considered too flashy. With his first 500-plus run season this year, the Kerala batter earned his first World Cup call-up. Samson will want to forget his recent IPL batting failures that hurt RR’s title hopes.

Avesh’s two-wicket burst, his fielding trap for Nitish Reddy, and his delivery to bowl out Abdul Samad against SRH in Qualifier 2 were standout moments. His success in death overs, executing wide yorkers accurately, will benefit him as India’s backup pace bowler in the USA and West Indies.

“He's got great presence and clarity. He’s excellent at finishing in the death overs and has been phenomenal for RR. We couldn't ask for a better trier,” said Kumar Sangakkara, RR’s Director of Cricket.

### Promising Young Players

Dhruv Jurel, another young talent, impressed with his composed fourth innings chase in Ranchi during the Test series against England. His fifty in Chennai against SRH amidst falling wickets didn’t go unnoticed. “I think he's going to be phenomenal in every format he plays,” said Sangakkara.

Riyan Parag was another success for RR this year. He was their highest scorer (573 runs, SR 149) and his fearless batting against pace and spin was crucial to RR’s playoff run. For his bold approach against top bowlers, Parag is likely to get an international cap after the World Cup.

Veteran Players' Impact

Sandeep Sharma, 31, was also a key bowler for RR. Initially seen as a powerplay swing option, his slower speeds reduced his effectiveness. But RR used him in middle to death overs, getting the best out of him. “For two seasons, Sandeep has been outstanding. He knows what he can and can't do. He sticks to the basics, tries to swing the new ball, and his pace changes are really good. His effective yorker percentage is over double the IPL average for a right-hander,” said Sangakkara.

Chahal thrived with the freedom given by the franchise. Teaming up with Ashwin, their contrasting styles brought great results, earning Chahal an India recall for the World Cup.