Rajasthan Royals will be out to showcase their royalty in the upcoming 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Royals retained the joint-most players ahead of the mega auction alongside Kolkata Knight Riders (6). Sanju Samson will lead the side, and one would see him open, given he is doing that now for Team India in T20Is and going well. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, and Shimron Hetmyer were retained as well. So you get an ideal six already in the playing XI.
However, surprisingly the Royals let go of several star names. Not holding Yuzvendra Chahal was a surprise to all. He is already RR’s top wicket-taker, having played for them for three seasons (2022-24). Similarly, Jos Buttler was another player they let go of alongside Trent Boult. RR will hope this won’t come back to bite them.
The mega auction in Jeddah saw the Royals get Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Theekshana. By the look of things, they would be an integral part of the side and lead the spin show. Former pacer Jofra Archer was roped in for a whopping INR 12.50 crore. He fits in straight away and will lead the pace battery. RR also did well to get Indian customers in Nitish Rana and Tushar Deshpande. These additions highlight RR have a capable side to attack and go about their business.
RR, who have former Team India coach Rahul Dravid at the helm, went bold by signing the youngest player in IPL history. They made history in securing 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He is a bright talent who could be in the same mold as Yashasvi Jaiswal. RR also went for some decent uncapped Indian players. However, the side has its main XI sorted and will go with purpose under Samson.
Ahead of the IPL 2025 season, we decode the strengths, weaknesses, and takeaways of RR.
RR’s squad for the IPL 2025 season
Retained players ahead of the auction: Sanju Samson (Rs. 18 crore), Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rs. 18 crore), Riyan Parag (Rs. 14 crore), Dhruv Jurel (Rs. 14 crore), Shimron Hetmyer (Rs. 11 crore) and Sandeep Sharma (Rs. 4 crore)
Players bought: Jofra Archer (Rs. 12.50 crore), Maheesh Theekshana (Rs. 4.4 crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs. 5.25 crore), Akash Madhwal (Rs. 1.20 crore), Kumar Kartikeya (Rs. 30 lakh), Nitish Rana (Rs. 4.20 crore), Tushar Deshpande (Rs. 6.50 crore), Shubham Dubey (Rs. 80 lakh), Yudhvir Singh (Rs. 35 lakh), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Rs. 2 crore), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rs. 1.10 crore), Kwena Maphaka (Rs. 1.50 crore), Kunal Rathore (Rs. 30 lakh), Ashok Sharma (Rs. 30 lakh).
Three major strengths of RR
RR’s bowling is sturdy and has a nice blend, especially when it comes to the main components. Sandeep has plenty of experience under his belt, and RR seess him as someone who can guide the youngsters. With 137 IPL scalps under his belt, Sandeep did a reasonable job last season, taking 13 scalps. Sandeep is effective both in the power play and final four overs. Archer’s pace and variations will help RR. He did a reasonable job earlier with the franchise. Archer, who has made a sound return to cricket from injury, owns 48 IPL scalps. He is seen to bring the impact Boult had across the last few years with the side. RR’s smart buy in Deshpande is notable. In 13 matches last season for Chennai Super Kings, Deshpande managed 17 wickets. The right-arm pacer has 42 scalps in total in the IPL.
Fazalhaq Farooqi is a real asset in this side. He is a solid replacement for Archer, who can be rested keeping his fitness in mind in between. With an average of 19.09 and an economy rate of just 6.94, Farooqi is a stable T20 warrior in the ranks. Similarly, in spin, Kumar Kartikeya brings capabilities as a proven domestic star. He averages 19.91 in T20s.
Wanindu Hasaranga was one of the steals in the IPL 2025 auction. He can safely be said as the top two spinners in T20 cricket at the moment. One of the consistent sides, RR, perhaps look at Hasaranga, who can fill in the shoes of Chahal for the next three seasons. Hasaranga brings plenty to the RR side with his offerings as a leg-spinner. In 200 T20 matches, he has 287 scalps under his belt at 16.65. His economy rate is just 6.90. Hasaranga, who played for RCB earlier in the IPL, owns 35 scalps from 26 games at 21.37.
Theekshana is someone who is also a reliable personality. In 178 T20s, he has 189 scalps under his belt. His understanding of Hasaranga will aid the Royals.
Batting is RR’s second major strength. In Samson and Jaiswal, RR get a strong combination to tear opposition sides apart. Samson is highly experienced, with over 7,200 runs in T20s. He has smashed six tons. Jaiswal is the present and future of both RR and Team India. Former KKR ace Nitish Rana will be slotted in at number three. A solid player of spin, the southpaw brings a lot of pedigree. Riyan Parag got his due, and the trust RR have in him is immense. 2024 was Parag’s payback time in the IPL for RR. He smashed a staggering 573 runs at 52.09.
In Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer, RR have the desired batters to be the finishers of the side and also hold credibility in the middle order. These two talents are a bonus for any side. Meanwhile, Shubham Dubey adds vitality from the bench. He averages over 35 in T20s and has a strike rate of close to 150.
RR’s major weakness
RR lack credibility in terms of backups. Yes, Dubey, Kartikeya, and Farooqi are able names, but barring these, the side lacks depth. Akash Madhwal took just five scalps from five matches in IPL 2024 for MI at 41. His economy rate was poor (11-plus). Teenager Kwena Maphaka played only 2 games for MI, and he averaged 89 and had an ER of 14.83. Yudhvir Singh and Ashok Sharma are the other uncapped pacers in the mix. Yudhvir has limited experience in T20s and averages 33-plus. Ashok is yet to make his debut in domestic cricket. At 22 years old, he seems a wasted talent who is more suited as a net bowler. So RR are running on thin ice when it comes to pace options. If Sandeep or Deshpande suffer injuries or are out of form, RR are destined to struggle.
In batting, too, RR’s bench is not up to the mark. Dubey has never played in the IPL. 13-year-old Vaibhav is a raw deal. When it comes to playing international stars, he is far away and could struggle. Also, Kunal Rathore hasn’t played in the IPL and is inexperienced. RR’s batting, apart from the main XI, looks weak.
Who can be RR’s Impact Players?
With the Impact Player rule, teams can name five substitutes and use one of them when needed. If four foreign players are already named in the XI, the impact player can only be an Indian. So RR have work to do here and get the right call. Kartikeya seems the ideal choice as an impact player. He can be the sixth option for RR in bowling. Madhwal can also be thrown into the mix as a 4th pace option.
Probable RR XI
Sanju Samson (c and wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma.
Players to watch out for
Sanju Samson: If RR are to shine, skipper Samson holds the key. In 16 matches last season, Samson scored a credible 531 runs in the IPL. Samson owns 4419 runs in the IPL and owns over 200 sixes. Samson can be seen as a responsible figure who has finally come to his fore, He owns three T20I tons and all of them have come in 2024 alongside a fifty.
IPL 2025 season: RR to miss out on top 4
RR lack the strengths, having let go of names such as Boult, Buttler, and Chahal. They have a decent XI, which can do well but there is a lack of character in batting with poor bench strength. Similarly, no good pace options in the Indian ranks is another major blow. This side needs a fixed XI and an impact player to make amends, but the overall structure is a miss.
