3 players Rajasthan Royals could have opted for instead of Heinrich Klaasen, to replace Steven Smith

The 11th season of IPL is slated to kick start from April 7th with arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

With less than 10 days remaining for the cricket extravaganza, Rajasthan Royals were dealt a severe blow as their only retained player, Steve Smith, was banned from playing in the 2018 IPL due to his involvement in the recent sandpaper gate.

Rajasthan Royals have chosen the Titans' and Proteas wicket-keeper batsman, Heinrich Klaasen as the replacement for Steve Smith. Although Klaasen is not a bad option, here is a list of players that Rajasthan Royals could have chosen instead:

#3) Lendl Simmons

In 2016 ICC T20 World Cup semifinals against India, Lendl Simmons anchored the Windies innings after the Caribbeans losing Chris Gayle in the second over itself. Simmons played an exemplary role and led the West Indies to the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup finals.

He was named as the replacement for the injured Jalaj Saxena in 2014. Playing in four consecutive seasons for Mumbai, he has scored 1,079 runs in 29 matches averaging close to 40 (39.96). He boasts an IPL century as well.

Why Lendl Simmons?

Simmons is a dashing opener who can provide a good batting option for any team. With his vast T20 experience, he could have provided solidity to the Royals side. Moreover, he has performed exceptionally when he has come in as a replacement in the past.

#2) Martin Guptill

The Kiwi international Martin Guptill had a base price of ₹75 lakhs and went unsold in the auction. He is one of those players who is extremely consistent in the shortest format of the game, averaging 33 in T20 with a strike rate around 130.

In 2017, playing for Punjab, Guptill scored 132 runs in 7 matches with an average of 22. While that may not sound like an imposing number, it should be noted that scored those runs at a strike rate of 150. Guptill is also the leading run-scorer for the Black Caps in T20Is with 2271 runs.

Why Martin Guptill?

Guptill is the kind of player who can come in either as an opener or at No. 3. He is an attacking batsman who is well known for giving brisk starts, and is also an electric fielder.

#1) Joe Root

Everyone had the name of Joe Root on his or her tongue tip before the start of the 2018 IPL auction. However, at the end of the auction, cricket fans were left scratching their heads over the fact that England's national team skipper was unsold.

Root is one of the finest batsmen of this generation and is considered among the "Fab Four" (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson are other three). Featuring in 25 T20I's for his national side, he has amassed 743 runs at an average of 39.10. He also boasts a decent strike rate of 128.76 in T20s.

Why Joe Root?

Root can avert any kind of crisis in the middle of innings. He is also one of the most beautiful players of spin in the world. He could have given Rajasthan a captaincy option too if Rahane got injured.