IPL 2023 | Opening pair, spinners hold key for RR; fast bowling department a cause of concern

IPL 2023 | Rajasthan Royals team preview: RR’s strenghts, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

They came close to winning their second IPL title last year before Gujarat Titans turned the 'Grand Finale' into some sort of an anti-climax and Rajasthan Royals team will be itching to do one better with a more than decent set of match-winners at its disposal.

Barring a few changes here and there and some injuries, RR has managed to to keep its core team intact.

Here's is a SWOT analysis of the side that will take on Punjab Kings in Mumbai on April 12.

RR's main strength lies in its batting line-up. The team's opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler looks threatening and most potent, and the all other sides in the tournament would be wary of the duo.

While England T20 skipper Buttler has been consistent in the run up to the 2023 season, it is Jaiswal, who is in ominous form.

Jaiswal scored a eye-catching 396 runs with an average of around 80 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, besides boasting of a terrific strike rate of 141.48 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he piled up 266 runs. The left-hander also struck a hundred for India A against Bangladesh A.

RR's middle-order will be led by Joe Root and mercurial skipper Sanju Samson with Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer and the talented Riyan Parag for company.