IPL 2019: Strongest possible Rajasthan Royals XI  

Middle-order: Steve Smith and Sanju Samson

Ajinkya Rahane

Steve Smith completes his one year ban and is expected to come back into the Royals side for IPL 2019. Whether the former Australian captain will lead his side still remains a question, but there is no doubt about his place in the playing XI. The 29-year-old scored 472 runs in IPL 2017 and averaged almost 40. Royals retained him for the next season.

Sanju Samson is expected to walk into the middle-order. Samson was brilliant for Royals last season with 441 runs in 15 games at an average of 31.50 and a strike rate of 137.81. The 24-year-old was consistent last season with three fifties and quite a few other useful contributions. He is getting better with each season and Royals made the right decision to retain him.