4 Ideal Replacements for Ben Stokes at Rajasthan Royals

Ben Stokes RR
Ben Stokes playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2020

Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League with a suspected broken finger. The English all-rounder hurt his hand in the dismissal of Chris Gayle as he ran in and completed a brilliant catch in the deep sending the ‘Universe Boss’ back to the pavilion.

The 29-year old came to open the innings for Rajasthan Royals but wasn’t convincing in his short stay at the crease as Mohammed Shami’s excessive pace was causing all sorts of problems for the Englishman. He returned to the pavilion after scoring a duck and ended his miserable tour of India on a bad note.

With David Miller and Liam Livingstone the only possible replacements available for Stokes in the squad, the Royals would be looking to sign an opening batsman as his replacement.

Here, we take a look at four ideal replacements available for Stokes who went unsold in the IPL 2021 auction.

#4 Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis slogging the ball whilst representing Mumbai Indians

Evin Lewis slogging the ball whilst representing Mumbai Indians

Evin Lewis had an amazing time in the 2018 season of the IPL as he scored 430 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 131.1. In the 2019 edition of the cash-rich league, Mumbai Indians signed South Africa wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock and Lewis didn’t get many opportunities to shine in the IPL again.

Lewis is a clean striker of the ball and can compliment Manan Vohra at the top as the Chandigarh-born batsman would get time to adapt to the pitch with the Caribbean batsman scoring runs at a brisk rate at the other end.

#3 Thisara Perera

Thisara Perera playing a pull shot in a Rising Pune Supergiants jersey

Thisara Perera playing a pull shot in a Rising Pune Supergiants jersey

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera is a like-for-like replacement for Ben Stokes as he can hit the big shots and bowl a few overs as well.

Perera is an experienced campaigner in the IPL and has played for six different franchises since being picked by Chennai Super Kings back in 2010. After helping Chennai win the IPL in the 2010 season, Perera represented Kochi Tuskers, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab, and Rising Pune Supergiants.

The 32-year old all-rounder has scored more than half of his IPL runs via boundaries at a strike rate of 137.46. He has also taken 31 wickets in 117 overs. Perera recently scored six sixes in a single over in the Sri Lankan domestic league and can carry the momentum straight to the IPL.

#2 Devon Conway

Devon Conway playing for New Zealand

Devon Conway playing for New Zealand

Devon Conway went unsold in the 2021 IPL auctions despite impressing everyone around the world with his consistency and shot-playing abilities against Australia.

Conway is an experienced campaigner in the T20s as he has scored 3149 runs at an average of 44.35 with the strike rate a shy under 130. The 29-year old made his T20I debut in November 2020 and since then has scored 473 runs in 11 innings at an amazing average of 59.12 and an astonishing strike rate of 151.12.

Conway would be relishing the opportunity of playing on Indian pitches before the 2021 ICC T-20 World Cup as the Kiwi batsman has not played in the Indian subcontinent in his short international career.

#1 Alex Hales

Alex Hales playing a shot in Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey

Alex Hales playing a shot in Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey

Alex Hales is a batsman that every franchise was looking at in the IPL 2021 auction but with big stars in Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and David Malan bought at the mini-auction, no other franchise was looking for a top-order batsman to add to their settled squad.

The 32-year old opening batsman had a brilliant Big Bash season as he top-scored with 543 runs in the league down under and is one of the most in-form batsmen sitting out of the IPL this season. 

The Englishman would be the perfect addition to the RR squad already has 3 England internationals in Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, and Jofra Archer which makes living in the bio-bubble a bit easier for the players involved.

Hales has a personal vendetta as well as the 32-year old is pushing for a comeback in the England T20I squad and a great IPL would almost make him an essential on England’s plane to India in November for the 2021 ICC T-20 World Cup.

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