Ben Stokes is a central figure in the Rajasthan Royals squad. He opens the batting, bowls crucial overs in the middle, and is a brilliant fielder. Stokes has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a finger injury in the first game. His loss comes as a huge setback for RR who are already missing the services of Jofra Archer. There are players like Liam Livingstone and David Miller who could step in as Stokes’s replacement in the playing XI. But RR will be keen to acquire the services of star foreign players who could provide them with the same X-factor.
StumpsandBails looks at 4 such players who can replace Ben Stokes in RR:
#4 Glenn Philipps
Glenn Philipps is a multi-dimensional player. He is a hard-hitting batsman who can keep as well as bowl tweaks if needed. His strike rate is a brilliant 149.7 in T20I’s. He can chip in with occasional off-spin to upset the opposition’s tempo. Phillips could be an underrated yet valuable addition to the RR setup.
#3 Alex Hales
Alex Hales has been in roaring form in domestic leagues across the world. He is a proven performer in BBL. Hales strikes at 152.12 in BBL while his overall career strike-rate is fantastic too (136.7). He can open as well as come in at number 3 or 4 and counter charge straight away. In a team studded with power hitters, Hales is a natural fit in Royals.
#2 Thisara Perera
Thisara Perera is one of the cleanest ball-strikers in cricket. He is fresh from the feat of hitting 6 sixes in an over in List A cricket. Perera is a handy option with the ball too. He can prove to be an ideal foil to Morris at number 6. Perera on his day can finish off games single-handedly. His T20I strike rate of 151.6 is insane. Perera can be a wonderful inclusion in the Royals family.
#1 Devon Conway
Devon Conway was the most notable emission from IPL 2021 auctions. Experts found it bizarre that none of the franchises signed up Conway. He averages a whopping 59.1 in this unpredictable format. Conway can be an ideal number 4 for RR. His hitting ability is second to none. He strikes at an outstanding 151.1. Conway can be the X-factor RR so desperately need now.
