3 reasons why Will Jacks should play today against RR

The young England all-rounder Will Jacks was signed by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for an amount of INR 3.20 crores in the IPL 2023 Auction. Late, the franchise retained him before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 mini-auction for the same amount. However, the 25-year-old hasn’t had a chance to feature in the playing XI for RCB in four matches they have played so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

But considering the current situation of RCB in the tournament, facing 3 defeats out of the 4 matches; they might consider giving a chance to Will Jacks in today’s game against RR at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Here’s a look at 3 reasons for Will Jacks’ inclusion in RCB playing XI:

Batting Record in T20 Format

Will Jacks plays for the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 League in South Africa. He has had a good record in his SA 20 career. Last year in the first season of the tournament in 2023, Jacks played 7 matches and scored 270 runs with an average of 38.57, including a highest score of 92 runs.

In the SA20 2024, which concluded earlier this year, he scored 245 runs in 10 matches with an average of 27.22, including a highest individual score of 101 runs. His records in the shortest format of the game also advocate for his place in the playing XI of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in today’s game against RR in Jaipur.

Spin All-Rounder

Being an off-spinner, Jacks could play a vital role for RCB at the bowling-friendly track of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He also had some good numbers in the SA20 League. He scalped 3 wickets at the cost of just 27 runs in the SA20 2023 last year, including a best performance of 2/7.

Later in the SA20 2024, he scalped 6 wickets, with a best performance of 2/18 in the 10 matches he played in the tournament for Pretoria Capitals. He might trouble the RR batters on the tough surface of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Finishing Abilities

Having heavyweights like Virat Kohli, skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and some other names in the top middle order might make RCB fit Will Jacks in the lower middle order of the batting attack.

He can produce a thrilling knock to finish the innings for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this upcoming crucial game against the hosts Rajasthan Royals.