Rajasthan Royals have built their squad around explosive batters, but what about their bowling? What’s going wrong for them in IPL 2025?
Rajasthan Royals (RR), the inaugural champions, were one of the most consistent teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the previous cycle. Known for their aggressive brand of cricket and a blend of youth and experience, they arguably had the best bowling lineup until last season, featuring a strike bowler like Trent Boult and spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. However, as the 2025 IPL season unfolds, a key question arises: Has their decision-making at the auction and retention table weakened their ability to execute on the field?
Retention strategy: Batting-heavy approach
RR’s retentions and releases ahead of the IPL 2025 auction made it clear that they prioritised their batting core over their bowling strength. Skipper Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Dhruv Jurel remained integral to their plans. However, the biggest surprise was the release of Jos Buttler.
On the other hand, the franchise released key bowlers like Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal, along with the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin. The departure of Boult, in particular, left a significant void, as he was instrumental in providing early breakthroughs with the new ball. Additionally, Chahal, who became the team’s second-highest wicket-taker within three seasons, was also released. With only Sandeep Sharma remaining from last year’s bowling attack, RR seemed to be gambling heavily on an overhauled bowling unit.
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Replacing Ashwin-Chahal with Hasaranga-Theekshana: Smart but risky?
To compensate for the loss of their experienced spin duo, RR brought in Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. While both Sri Lanka spinners have proven credentials in T20 cricket, there is an undeniable difference between them and the Ashwin-Chahal combination.
Chahal was a proven wicket-taker for RR, finishing as their highest wicket-taker in the last three seasons, while Ashwin provided control in the middle overs and could chip in with handy runs. Theekshana and Hasaranga are undoubtedly skilled, but their effectiveness in Indian conditions, particularly in high-pressure matches, remains to be seen. In addition to this, with both Chahal and Ashwin being India players, they managed to include overseas players in the squad to add depth in their playing XI.
Absence of left-arm pace threat
The most glaring gap in RR’s squad is the lack of a premier left-arm pacer. Trent Boult’s ability to swing the ball early and dismiss key batters in the powerplay was a game-changer for RR in previous seasons. Without him, RR lack variety in their pace attack, which could hurt them against strong top-order batting units.
Poor performances against KKR and SRH: Sign of trouble?
RR’s struggles in IPL 2025 have already been exposed in their matches against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Their bowling attack featuring Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, and Wanindu Hasaranga, which looked solid on paper, failed to deliver under pressure. The new-look spin attack hasn’t yet provided the impact that Ashwin and Chahal did, while their pace unit lacks the firepower to trouble opposition batters.
RR bowlers conceded 286 runs, the second-highest team total in the history of the IPL, against SRH in their campaign opener in Hyderabad. Jofra Archer was taken to the cleaners in that game, having conceded as many as 76 runs in his 4 over spell; most runs in a 4 over spell. Tushar Deshpande did well in the first game, but no one clicked in Guwahati against KKR as they failed to defend a 152 runs, on a sluggish surface.
Their batting, despite being their strongest suit, has also faltered in crucial moments. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s inconsistent form continues to be a concern, and RR have often found themselves in tricky situations where the middle order has had to do the heavy lifting. Riyan Parag, leading the side in the first three games in absence of Sanju Samson, promoted himself at number 3, despite him being the tournament’s third most run scorer last season while batting at number 4. Shimron Hetmyer is yet to fire on all cylinders, with only positives coming in the form of Dhruv Jurel, who scored a fifty against SRH and scored a decent 33 off 28 balls before getting dismissed.
Can RR find their way to better execution?
While Rajasthan Royals have a squad that looks strong on paper, their execution on the field has not matched expectations. The lack of a left-arm pacer, a new and untested spin duo, and an over-reliance on batting could prove costly in the long run. Unless RR find a way to address these issues, they might struggle to replicate their past success, despite having a team full of match-winners.
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