IPL 2018: 5 players who can replace the banned Steve Smith in Rajasthan Royals

#1 Joe Root

Root set his base prize at 1.5

crore

in the IPL auctions

2018 was the first time that Joe Root tossed his hat in the IPL Auctions. Having set his base prize at 1.5 crore, he could not capture the interest of the franchises. The most likely reason for this is that he would not be available for the full season and would have to return to national duty for a two-match Test series against Pakistan.

However as the IPL ends on 27 May and the England-Pakistan series begins on 24th May, Root would be available for the entire league stage. The English Test Captain can be an ideal replacement for Smith as he enjoys an almost similar stature as that of the Aussie. Root will also bring in some calmness and experience to the RR set up.