Ajit Karn
With the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) just around the corner, fan anticipation has been mounting by the day. Gujarat Titans (GT) will begin their title defense on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium against four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In their first season in the tournament, GT won the championship by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final. Prior to the commencement of the new season, former England captain Michael Vaughan made an audacious prediction about the IPL 2023 champion.
Vaughan believes the Sanju Samson-led RR, who were defeated in the final last year, will win the tournament this year.
Vaughan tweeted, “Can’t wait for the IPL to begin.. Looking forward to being a part of the @cricbuzz team.. I think it’s going to be @rajasthanroyals’ year.. they’ll be hoisting the trophy in late May.”
Can’t wait for the IPL to start .. Looking forward to being part of the @cricbuzz team .. I thinks it’s going to be @rajasthanroyals year .. they will be lifting the trophy in late May .. #OnOn #IPL2023
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 29, 2023
RR have not won the IPL since the inaugural season, when they were led to victory by the iconic Shane Warne.
RR will begin their IPL 2023 campaign on April 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad. RR lost the 2018 IPL final to the Gujarat Titans.
Last year, at the auction, RR acquired the services of West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder for Rs 5.75 crore, as well as Australian all-rounder Adam Zampa. (Rs 1.5 crore).
Joe Root, a batsman from England, will also participate in his first IPL season after being acquired for Rs 2 crore.
RR Full Squad:
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Jason Holder (Rs 5.75 crore), Donovan Ferreira (Rs 50 lakh), Kunal Rathore (Rs 20 lakh), Adam Zampa (Rs 1.5 crore), KM Asif (Rs 30 lakh), Murugan Ashwin (Rs 20 lakh), Abdul PA (Rs 20 lakh), Akash Vashisht (Rs 20 lakh), and Joe Root (Rs 20 lakh) were purchased at the IPL 2023 auction. (INR 2 crore)
Also read: Will MS Dhoni Retire After IPL 2023?
Retained players: Sanju Samson (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Jos Buttler, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Prasidh Krishna (Replaced by Sandeep Sharma), Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Sen, Kuldip Yadav, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, KC Cariappa.
