IPL 2020: Royals' big guns need to fire against Capitals

Consistent below par performances by Butler, Smith, and Samson have hurt the team.

Nobody gave Rajasthan a hope in hell when the top order - Jos Butler, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson and Steve Smith - had been cleaned up by Sunrisers in their match played over the weekend. Victory seemed a formality for David Warner's team. Then came the dramatic turnaround.
I won't dwell on the rollicking Rahul Tewatia-Riyan Parag partnership which gave Rajasthan this unexpected win, because the details are well known. What I do want to highlight is the heights this team can reach if major players live up to reputation.
Consistent below par performances by Butler, Smith, and Samson have hurt the team. Stokes, playing in his first match this season, made no impact against Hyderabad. Only Jofra Archer, brilliant once again, was up to mark.
If even Butler, Smith, Samson and Stokes make substantial contributions, Rajasthan's trajectory in the remainder of the tournament could be far more impressive than it has been in the first half. The onus on these players is clear.
Rajasthan's opponents tonight, Delhi Capitals, were beaten in the previous match by Mumbai Indians, but that does not take away too much from their achievements so far in the tournament. No other side has shown as much flair, energy and ambition consistently.
In both batting and bowing, Delhi are much richer. Injury to Rishabh Pant compelled a change in personnel and batting order in the previous match which obviously disrupted the rhythm of a winning team.
Ajinkya Rahane was brought in to shore up the top-order and Alex Carey had to be drafted in to keep wickets, which meant omitting Hetmyer since only four overseas players can be played in a match.
But both Rahane, with his vast experience, and Carey, based on what one saw of his in the 2019 ODI World Cup, are not poor substitutes, rather formidable players in their own right. Rajasthan can ill-afford to see this as Delhi's vulnerability.
With Axar and Ashwin at No. 7 & 8, Delhi bat deep, and the bowling's been in cracking form with Kagiso Rabada leading the wicket-taker's tally, Nortje's daunting line and length allowing few liberties, spinners Ashwin and Axar tying batsmen batsmen in knots. And yes, Stoinis too, who's making a big impact with bat and ball.
A more concerted team effort, with big guns firing, will be needed by Rajasthan to subdue strong Delhi and show that the win over Sunrisers was not a flash in the pan.

Players To Watch Out For: Kagiso Rabada, Shreyas Iyer (DC), Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer (RR) X Factor: Ben Stokes (RR).

- Ayaz Memon is an Indian sports writer and commentator

• IPL 2019