Rajasthan Royals, the team that made history by winning the very first IPL season and is known for backing young Indian talent, is having a tough time in the 2025 edition. Despite being in strong positions during several matches, they have struggled to finish games and turn opportunities into wins.
Resultantly, they find themselves at the 9th spot on the points table, far from where their fans expected them to be.
This disappointing run has left supporters heartbroken and wondering what’s gone wrong for the Royals this season.
Rajasthan Royals’ Unconventional Auction Moves and Their Impact
Questions around Rajasthan Royals’ strategy began surfacing as early as the auction table, when the franchise made some surprising decisions. Letting go of key players like Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal — two pillars of their success in the previous IPL cycle — raised many eyebrows.
Buttler, their explosive opener, and Chahal, their leading spinner, had played vital roles in taking the team to the final in 2022 and securing a playoff spot the following season.
Even more surprising was the decision to release veteran spinner R. Ashwin alongside Chahal, only to
bring in overseas spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga. At a time when their batting lineup seemed to lack depth and firepower, fans and experts expected the Royals to strengthen that area. Instead, the management chose to go all-in on their bowling attack — a move that now looks increasingly questionable given the team’s current struggles.
Rajasthan Royals’ Late-Stage Struggles: Finishers Falter in Key Moments
Despite the clear vulnerabilities in Rajasthan Royals’ squad following the auction, their defeats haven’t been one-sided. In fact, what’s made their campaign even more frustrating is how closely they’ve come to winning — only to falter at the finish line. In three consecutive matches, the Royals have failed to chase down modest targets in the final stages: twice falling short of 9 runs in the last over, and most recently, failing to get 18 off the last two overs against RCB.
What’s even more concerning is that in all three instances, their designated finishers, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer, were at the crease. These repeated failures have not only exposed a lack of composure in crunch moments but have also made fans painfully aware of the absence of Jos Buttler— the proven match-winner who is now in red-hot form for Gujarat Titans.
Off-Field Distractions and Key Injuries: Rajasthan Royals’ Struggles Deepen
When things start going downhill, off-field distractions often add to a team’s woes — and Rajasthan Royals have not been immune to that. A cloud of speculation recently loomed over the RR camp, with media reports hinting at a possible rift between skipper Sanju Samson and the team management.
The chatter grew louder when Riyan Parag was seen leading the side in Samson’s absence, sparking debates over internal dynamics.
Sanju’s absence came as a major blow to an already thin batting lineup, almost like salt on an open wound. The Royals were banking heavily on their top trio — Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag — to deliver the runs. But with Samson sidelined, Parag struggling to replicate his previous season’s form, and Jaiswal left to carry the burden alone, the batting unit has looked far from convincing.
What was once seen as a promising core now seems overwhelmed, leaving fans and the team desperate for a turnaround.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Seizes His Chance with Rajasthan Royals
Every IPL season, Rajasthan Royals are seen as the team most likely to unearth the next big young talent — a reputation they’ve proudly built over the years. With Rahul Dravid returning to the franchise in a key role, hopes were high that this season would mark the rise of another raw, exciting prospect. And the moment arrived with the introduction of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest player ever to feature in the IPL.
Picked up for ₹1.1 crore in the auction, the Royals’ think-tank, including Dravid, looked visibly pleased
with their acquisition. As fate would have it, an injury to skipper Sanju Samson opened the door for Vaibhav to step onto the big stage. It was a perfect storm of opportunity — a young talent, guided by
a mentor like Dravid, getting his chance to shine in the world’s biggest T20 league.
While the season hasn’t unfolded the way the Rajasthan Royals team, management, or fans had hoped, there are still a few positives to hold on to. This is not a side that’s being outplayed or blown away — they are staying in the fight, only falling short in crucial moments. These narrow defeats, while painful, also suggest that a turnaround is not far off.
With a core of talented youngsters and the steady hand of Rahul Dravid guiding them, there’s every reason to believe that better days lie ahead. In an environment that nurtures raw talent and builds character, the Royals have the foundation to bounce back stronger. It might be a rough patch now,
but with time, belief, and the right direction, the tide could soon
