IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals Preview – Squad Analysis of RR And Starting XI

Rajasthan Royals (RR) began the season strongly, winning eight of their first nine matches and appearing poised for a top-two finish. However, a string of four consecutive defeats and an abandoned game saw them drop to third place. RR then triumphed over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator but fell to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2.

Best Likely XII

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Sanju Samson (c & wk)
3. Nitish Rana
4. Riyan Parag
5. Dhruv Jurel
6. Shimron Hetmyer*
7. Wanindu Hasaranga*
8. Shubham Dubey/Akash Madhwal
9. Jofra Archer*
10. Maheesh Theekshana/Fazalhaq Farooqi*
11. Sandeep Sharma
12. Tushar Deshpande
    (*Denotes overseas player)

Full Squad

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Maheesh Theekshana, Ashok Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Yudhvir Singh

Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 Setup: A Risky Bet on Bowlers and Domestic Batting Depth

Rahul Dravid is back in the coaching arena, and his mission remains the same—deliver a title. Having previously guided the Indian team to glory in a similar role, Rajasthan Royals will be hoping their former captain can repeat history and end their title drought since 2008. Assisting him in this challenge is batting coach Vikram Rathour, while Sairaj Bahutule takes charge of the spin department.

Despite retaining six players, RR’s squad has undergone a major overhaul. Key departures include Jos Buttler, the franchise’s third-highest run-scorer, along with experienced bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Trent Boult. However, the Royals have reinforced their attack with a younger core, bringing back Jofra Archer and signing Tushar Deshpande, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana in a INR 28.65 crore spending spree.

Bowling flexibility isn’t a concern, but batting depth remains an issue. The lack of experienced backups and finishing options could prove costly. With an all-Indian top five featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel, RR is attempting a rare strategy—one that hasn’t historically secured playoff spots.

Adding intrigue is 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest player to earn an IPL contract. The Bihar prodigy debuted in domestic cricket last season and could be a wildcard selection. However, with limited overseas batting options—Shimron Hetmyer being the sole retained foreign batter—the Royals might find themselves tested for depth as the season progresses.

Watch Out For

Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer is back with Rajasthan Royals (RR) after nearly five years, having previously played for them from 2018 to 2020. He joins the IPL following an injury-free 2024, a welcome change after battling persistent elbow and back issues. Since making his international comeback in May, Archer has featured in 19 T20Is, claiming 23 wickets at an average of 24.26. However, given his injury history, RR will likely manage his workload carefully. They also have overseas left-arm pace options in Fazalhaq Farooqi and Kwena Maphaka as backups.

Riyan Parag

Riyan Parag, meanwhile, returned to action in late January, leading Assam against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy after recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for over three months.

After six seasons, he finally delivered on RR’s long-standing faith, amassing 573 runs in IPL 2024 at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21—outscoring Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Jos Buttler. His stellar form earned him debuts in both T20Is and ODIs, and with Buttler no longer in the squad, RR will rely on Parag even more this season.

Nitish Rana

Despite delivering consistent performances in the IPL since his international debut, Nitish Rana hasn’t enjoyed the career trajectory he might have hoped for. After relocating from his home state association, he found himself on the sidelines for most of KKR’s title-winning campaign last season, featuring in just two matches.

His struggles extended into domestic cricket this season, where he endured a difficult run across formats, including a lackluster Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. With a challenging year behind him, Rana has a lot to prove as he looks to reclaim his place in the spotlight.

Dhruv Jurel

Dhruv Jurel has repeatedly shown glimpses of his potential, but with the high-pressure situations he often finds himself in—ones that Riyan Parag struggled to master for years—he needs to step up more consistently.

While his T20 stats may not be extraordinary, Rajasthan Royals have placed immense trust in him, retaining him for a staggering INR 14 crore. For RR to capitalize on crucial moments, Jurel has a significant role to play. If he delivers this season, it could mark a defining moment in his T20 career.

Sanju Samson’s Fitness Concern and Hasaranga’s ILT20 Impact

Sanju Samson heads into the IPL after a disappointing run in the T20I series against England, scoring just 51 runs in five matches earlier this year. However, prior to that, he had notched three centuries in five innings, with ducks in the other two. Samson recently underwent finger surgery and is awaiting fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team. It remains uncertain whether this will affect his availability for RR’s season opener on March 23. Interestingly, he sustained the injury during the fifth T20I against England in early February when he was struck by a delivery from Jofra Archer, his RR teammate.

Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga was a standout performer in the ILT20 held in the UAE earlier this year. He finished as Desert Vipers’ second-highest wicket-taker, claiming 12 scalps. His economy rate of 5.88 was the best among all bowlers who delivered at least 100 balls in the tournament, with Sunil Narine following closely at 6.17.

Fixture Challenges and Key Home Ground Stat

Rajasthan Royals’ fixtures are well-spaced, but frequent travel will make for a demanding campaign. The longest they will remain at a single venue is for two-game stretches—once in Guwahati and later in Jaipur. Their most extended break comes after their eighth league match, from April 19 to 24, offering a brief respite in an otherwise hectic schedule.

At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, one of RR’s two home venues, the toss has historically had little impact. Over the last 10 matches, teams batting first and second have won an equal number of games. However, pace bowlers have struggled significantly at this venue, recording the worst average and strike rate among all IPL grounds in the past two seasons.

Read More: IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings Preview – SWOT Analysis of CSK & Starting XI

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