According to reports, Rajasthan Royals have written to the seven other IPL franchisees seeking loans for overseas players. Due to a combination of injuries and bubble fatigue, the Royals have been badly affected by the unavailability of their overseas stars and are left with only 4 foreign players in their squad at the moment. Ben Stokes was ruled out of the tournament after breaking his finger while fielding in the first match while Jofra Archer continues to be side lined due to an elbow and finger injury. Liam Livingstone has also chosen to go back home due to bubble fatigue and AJ Tye has returned to Australia over concerns surrounding the current situation of Covid-19 in India.
This puts the Royals in a tricky situation with 9 league games still to be played and only four overseas players (Morris, Buttler, Miller and Mustafizur) in the squad.
The IPL loan window was activated on Monday morning and according to reports, the Royals have sent out requests to various franchisees for player loans. The rules state that a player can be loaned to another franchisee if they have played less than two matches during the season. The loan would require the consent of the player in question and would last for the entire duration with the player not being allowed to play against their parent club.
Here are five players who the Royals could look to sign on a temporary loan basis:
1. Jason Roy – Sunrisers Hyderabad
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Jason Roy was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh this season but has yet to play a game for the Men in Orange with captain David Warner, Jonny Bairstow and Kane Williamson all ahead of the Englishman in the pecking order. Barring any injury concerns, it is unlikely Roy will get a game for Hyderabad this season and could be an option for RR to target for the overseas opener slot.
2. Jimmy Neesham – Mumbai Indians
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Jimmy Neesham is another option that Rajasthan can look to loan as a replacement for Ben Stokes in the side. Neesham can bat in the middle order in place of David Miller or be used instead of Shivam Dube while removing one of the overseas pacers to boost Rajasthan’s all-round capabilities. Neesham is currently signed to the Mumbai Indians but has failed to play a single game this season.
3. Sam Billings – Delhi Capitals
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Rajasthan Royals have a proud English contingent in the team and they could add to that with the loan signing of Sam Billings from the Delhi Capitals. Billings is a dynamic middle-order wicketkeeper-batsman but has struggled to make his way into the Delhi Team ahead of Stoinis, Smith and Hetmyer and a loan signing for Rajasthan Royals could be beneficial for both parties.
4. Ben Cutting – Kolkata Knight Riders
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Another all-round option that Rajasthan could look to sign temporarily is Ben Cutting. The Australian all-rounder has been signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders this season as a backup to Andre Russell and has understandably not played a single game this season as of yet. Cutting is a valuable lower-order batsman that is especially dangerous against pace bowling and could be a valuable option lower down the order for the Royals.
5. Tom Curran – Delhi Capitals
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With Archer and AJ Tye both not available to Rajasthan, they have been left with only two overseas fast bowlers this season, Mustafizur Rahman and Chris Morris. Considering the tough schedule for IPL teams, it might not be possible for both Morris and the Fizz to play all 14 games and hence some backup in this position could be beneficial. Rajasthan could look to sign Tom Curran from the Delhi Capitals who is now no longer expected to play in the first XI with Rabada, Nortje and Chris Woakes in the squad. Curran played with Rajasthan last season and could be a feasible loan signing considering the circumstances.
[Image Credit: Rajasthan Royals]
Shivaan Shah