IPL 2018: 3 tactical changes Rajasthan Royals should make to get back to winning ways

A bubble has been burst. A big one, that of a 9-match winning streak. Lead by their skipper Dinesh Karthik, Kolkata Knight Riders have belittled the Rajasthan Royals at a place which they considered their den - the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur.

Rajasthan Royals were not only handed a defeat on Wednesday (April 19), they were beaten rather comprehensively. But the crest-fallen men must forget the defeat because this stone-hearted competition called the IPL doesn't give anyone the time to lament.

They will try to make a strong comeback and they can do it by making these three tactical changes.

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#3 Having a settled batting order

Ben Stokes - RR's most prized asset

There have been a lot of discussions about RR's batting order this season. Shane Warne and his compatriots have shuffled their batting order like it is a deck of cards. They are opening the innings with Ajinkya Rahane and D'Arcy Short and have two other batters who used to open the innings - Rahul Tripathi and Jos Buttler.

Their most prized asset Ben Stokes, who is known for his ability to finish games, has batted either at number 3 or number 4.

Tripathi, who did wonders for Rising Pune Supergiant last year as an opener, was being used as a finisher at number 5 or 6 until yesterday, when he came in at number 4. The only transparent reason we can find for this unnecessary tweaking is to maintain a left-right combination.

If you examine the scorecards of RR's matches closely, you'll find that whenever the right-hander Ajinkya Rahane has got out, the left-hander Stokes was called upon, while right-hander Sanju Samson was slotted in at number 3 when left-hander D'Arcy Short got out.

What Warne needs to understand is this plan has more chances of failing than of succeeding. He needs to have a concrete batting order, a line-up that does not change much from one match to the next. This would give all the batsmen some measure of stability, allowing them to get comfortable with their designated positions.

#2 Dropping D'Arcy Short for Heinrich Klaasen

South African Heinrich Klaasen in action during a match against India

RR have tried enough exoticism by giving 'hot prospect' D'Arcy Short 4 chances, but his current form is miles away from his usual style of play. Short failed to make a mark in the first three games and got a run-a-ball 44 in the last game.

While a knock of 44 in an innings where the team managed only 160 might look impressive, there is one factor we need to consider.

Short struggled to get off to a good start as Piyush Chawla spun a web around him. As a result, Rahane was forced to play big shots so as to keep the scoreboard moving. The skipper eventually lost his wicket after delivering a few blows and his successor Sanju Samson had to follow his path. He too ended up throwing his wicket away.

To replace Short, RR can use the South African batter, Heinrich Klaasen. The 26-year-old has an average of over 30 in T20Is, but more importantly, his strike rate is over 190. He can provide the acceleration RR need at the start or can be used as a floater.

#1 Changing their bowling attack

Jofra Archer should be fit for the next game against CSK

Apart from Steve Smith, the other cricketer Rajasthan Royals are missing is Jofra Archer. Archer has set the cricketing world on fire by virtue of his all-round performances for Hobart Hurricanes in Big Bash League of Australia. He has been nursing an injury, but it is being reported that he will be fit for the next match.

The moment he is fit, Archer should get into the team in place of Ben Laughlin. Laughlin has picked up 3 wickets this year and conceded runs at an economy rate of over 10 runs per over.

Even if Archer is not fit, they can try playing an extra spinner in Ish Sodhi. Sodhi has picked up 36 T20I wickets in the 26 chances he has got so far for New Zealand, and his economy rate is just a notch over 7 runs per over.

The spinners have done a good job for RR, and adding an extra weapon to their ammunition might work in their favour.