Rajasthan Royals kick-started their Indian Premier League 2024 journey by adding six players to the squad from the mini-auction held last year. The Royals bolstered their batting and bowling departments adding three to each, with an equal mix of domestic and overseas players. Here’s what the new crop for IPL 2024 looks like.
Rovman Powell
Rajasthan Royals signed Rovman Powell for INR 7.40 crores in the IPL 2024 auction to strengthen their big-hitting credentials.
Powell was part of the Delhi Capitals side for the last two seasons and scored 250 runs in IPL 2022 at an excellent strike rate of 149.70, prompting Royals to go on a bidding war with Kolkata Knight Riders from his base price of INR 1 crore.
The 30-year-old Powell, who captains West Indies in T20 Internationals, has scored 245 runs in T20I’s in the last two years averaging above 30 on both occasions and striking at more than 170 each year.
Rovman Powell, who had a base price of INR 1 crore in the auctions, looked dangerous in the Caribbean Premier League 2023, where he scored 193 runs from nine matches averaging 32.16 at a strike rate of just below 170, as skipper of the Barbados Royals.
Apart from his big-hitting ability in the middle and death overs, Powell is a handy medium pacer who can bowl an over or too, which brings balance to the Royals’ side.
Avesh Khan
Avesh Khan was acquired by Rajasthan Royals before the IPL 2024 auction, in a trade swap involving Devdutt Padikkal, from Lucknow Super Giants.
The 27-year-old Avesh made his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals in 2021, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in that edition of the tournament with 24 scalps, and helping Delhi reach the play-offs. Lucknow Super Giants signed him for INR 10 crores in the mega auction of 2022.
With 18 wickets from 13 matches, the right-arm fast bowler finished as Lucknow’s highest wicket-taker in IPL 2022, where they finished fourth in the table and qualified for the knock-outs.
In IPL 2023, Avesh picked up eight wickets from nine matches for Lucknow. Avesh Khan provides another option for Rajasthan Royals to fulfill its new ball duties in the powerplay. Given the absence of Royals’ lead Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna, Avesh fills in the void well.
Avesh Khan, a product of the MRF Pace Foundation, has also represented the Indian cricket team in 20 T20Is and eight ODIs picking 19 and nine wickets, respectively.
Shubham Dubey
Shubham Dubey, who had a base price of INR 20 Lakhs in IPL 2024 auction, was signed by Rajasthan Royals for INR 5.80 crore. The left-hand batter, who plays for Vidarbha in domestic cricket had a good run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament.
The 29-year-old played the role of a finisher scoring 221 runs from seven matches and remained unbeaten on four occasions. Dubey averaged 73.66 and had an unbelievable strike rate of 187.28 in Vidarbha’s run to the quarter-finals of the tournament, and finished as their second-best run-getter behind Atharva Taide.
The middle-order batter made his First-Class and List A debut for Vidarbha this season on the back of his performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. Along with Rovman Powell and Dhruv Jurel, Dubey provides the Royals an advantage in the end game.
Nandre Burger
Nandre Burger was signed by Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2024 at his base price of INR 50 Lakhs. The 28-year-old Burger made his debut for South Africa in the Indian tour last December.
Burger was the second-highest wicket-taker behind Jasprit Bumrah in the Test series with 11 wickets. The left-arm quick also picked up five wickets from his three ODIs against India.
Burger provides the perfect back-up option for left-arm pacer Trent Boult and strengthens the Royals’ pace battery further.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, a 29-year-old wicket-keeper batter, was signed by Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024 auction at his base price of INR 40 Lakhs.
An experienced player in the T20 format with over 4700 runs in nearly 200 appearances at a strike rate of just under 140, Cadmore has been a regular presence in franchise cricket around the world for his big-hitting ability.
In The Hundred Men’s tournament held last year, Kohler-Cadmore scored 147 runs from seven matches for Trent Rockets at a strike rate of 125.64.
Kohler-Cadmore took part in the Abu Dhabi T10 league last year and finished as the top-scorer in the tournament with 368 runs from 10 matches at an average of 73.60 and a marauding strike rate of 224.39 for his side Deccan Gladiators, which reached the final.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore was also part of the Sharjah Warriors team in the International League T20 held recently in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored 153 runs from 9 matches at a strike rate of 151.48.
With his experience and giant hits, Kohler-Cadmore can be a handful at the top of the order and his wicket-keeping skills makes him the sixth gloveman in the Royals’ squad.
Abid Mushtaq
Abid Mushtaq is a left-arm orthodox spinner from Jammu and Kashmir, signed by Rajasthan Royals for his base price of INR 20 Lakhs.
The 26-year-old Mushtaq comes into the Rajasthan Royals squad after a good Ranji trophy campaign where he picked up 18 wickets from 9 innings at an average of 19.00.
In a low-scoring thriller against Puducherry, Abid Mushtaq picked a match haul of 10/92 to help Jammu and Kashmir win the match after conceding a first-innings lead to Puducherry.
Abid is the only left-arm orthodox spinner in the Royals’ squad helping them cover all the bases. He is also a handy left-hand batter lower down the order averaging 29.25 in List-A and 22.36 in First-Class cricket.
