Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has criticized Rajasthan Royals’ “disorder” batting order after the franchise suffered yet another massive defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing 13th edition of the IPL 2020 in Dubai on Thursday (October 22).
So far in the IPL 13, the Royals have done a lot of chopping and changing in their batting order but it hasn't helped the winners of the first-ever IPL edition much, as they continue to languish at the 7th position in the points table with seven loses from 11 games.
RR has three world-class batters in Jos Buttler, captain Steve Smith, and Ben Stokes while Indian star Sanju Samson is also at their ranks but they are still struggling to strike the perfect balance in the batting order.
Aakash was particularly critical of Stokes’ selection as an opener despite the English all-rounder not being in good form as he has not even hit a six from 103 balls that he has faced in the ongoing IPL 2020 so far. However, he has hit 14 fours and scored 110 runs at an average of 22 so far this season.
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On the other hand, Buttler was a star for Royals last season, but this season, the English wicketkeeper-batsman has been asked to bat in the middle and he is struggling to score consistently, scoring only 271 runs from 10 games in the ongoing tournament.
The commentator believes that playing Buttler at No. 5 while Stokes is being used as an opener is hurting the Royals’ team balance and that’s the biggest reason behind their struggle in the IPL 13.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “RR has an issue that their batting order is actually a disorder. Their batting order is beyond my understanding at this point of time because Jos Buttler, who is their best player is being sent at No.4 while they are opening with Ben Stokes, whose bat is not firing.”
He further explained, “The extent to which Ben Stokes’ bat has not been firing can be understood by the fact that he has played more than 100 deliveries and he is yet to hit a six. They have signed Ben Stokes and not Aakash Chopra that he is scoring with just the fours and singles. RR had expectations from Ben Stokes but he is not able to deliver there but the entire innings is becoming slow. Because of that Sanju Samson plays a bad shot to get out as the pressure is mounting.”
Chopra signed off by saying, “By the time Steve Smith comes to bat, the match is almost going out of their hands and in such a situation if Jos Buttler gets out, already you have reduced his effectiveness by giving him less overs to bat, then your whole boat sinks.”
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)
