Sanjay Manjrekar said that the Rajasthan Royals need to show as much faith in a few of their players as they do with Riyan Parag. However, Parag managed only 78 runs at a dismal average of 13.00 in seven innings in IPL 2023. But he has been retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, potentially based on impressive performances for Assam in this season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well.
While previewing the auction on Start Sports, Manjrekar said: “They continue to back Riyan Parag. I think they might need a little more strengthening of batting and I hope they back Dhruv Jurel because there was something there last season. They need to start trusting other players the way they do with Riyan Parag.”
Meanwhile, he was happy with the Royals’ decision to trade in Avesh Khan from the Lucknow Super Giants as well.
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He added: “I like the fact that they have gone for somebody like an Avesh Khan, so there is a little more support there for Prasidh Krishna. This is another team that looks all stacked up.”
Manjrekar also stated that the Royals have enough spin-bowling options, claiming that Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal form a brilliant pair for them as well. He again stated that he won’t be surprised if the inaugural IPL champions go after Gerald Coetzee to buy him for their seam-bowling department. Irfan Pathan, on the other hand, feels the Rajasthan Royals should utilize Donavon Ferreira’s big-hitting abilities by giving him a chance up the order.
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“Just look at the name Donavon Ferreira. If he can bat at the right position, I think he is one of the most powerful hitters I have seen in recent times. He can struggle against spin but if he bats up the order, maybe No. 3, that slot of one overseas batter will be sorted,” he stated. “Then Dhruv Jurel coming in with an Impact Player, you can have a longer batting lineup. They look pretty sorted, they are ready to play tomorrow as well, but if they can have an all-rounder in their squad, they will be a much better side on paper.”
