It wasn’t a great evening for Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Tuesday both on and off the field in the 2022 edition of the IPL. While they suffered their first defeat of the tournament against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a piece of bad news was waiting for them off the field as fast bowling all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile was ruled out of the tournament.
Coulter-Nile suffered a side strain during the Royals’ opening game of the tournament against the Sunrisers Hyderabad when he stopped midway during his run-up and walked off the field. The 34-year old didn’t play the next two games and ultimately was ruled out of the 15th edition of the IPL and flew back home on Wednesday for the recovery.
Coulter-Nile’s injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Royals as they are searching for their No. 7, who is a four-over bank with the ball and can play those 10-15 ball knocks. While they have batting all-rounders in Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell but for the balance of the side, they will be looking for a bowling all-rounder. Let’s take a look at three players, who could be a potential replacement option for RR:
1. Dasun Shanaka
Sri Lanka’s white-ball skipper Dasun Shanaka is a three-dimensional player, however, since getting the responsibility of captaining the national side, his form dipped of late both as a bowler and a batter. But, Shanaka’s performance with the bat really came through in the T20I series against India as he smashed Indian bowlers left, right and centre in the last two games in Dharamshala. Sri Lanka didn’t win the game but his innings of 47* off 19 and 74* off 38 in second and third matches respectively just put him on the global T20 radar as he was just smashing it clean. Even though he may not be a four-over bowler but with his change-ups and familiarity with sub-continent conditions, Shanaka could be an asset for RR at No 7.
2. David Wiese
David Wiese has been a T20 globetrotter having played the shortest format across the world in various franchise leagues and recently made a comeback on the international circuit with Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2021. Wiese has played for RCB in the past in the IPL and with the experience and knowledge he has got and with the form he is coming from in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Wiese could solve RR’s death bowling and batting issues.
While many have touted Ben Cutting to be another option, but the Sydney Thunder all-rounder doesn’t bowl at the death and the lack of bowling experience could go against favour. Hence, the New South Wales all-rounder Hayden Kerr could be thrown into the mix. Kerr bats in the top-order, played magnificent innings for Sydney Sixers (98* off 59) opening the batting and is a four-over bank. He bowls in the powerplay, gives a couple of overs in the death and along with Trent Boult, is another left-arm option.
