Where They Finished in This Cycle
- 2022: Runner-up
- 2023: 5th
- 2024: 3rd (Lost Qualifier 2)
Rajasthan Royals’ Season at a Glance
Rajasthan Royals’ Season Overview
It was a season of two distinct halves for the Rajasthan Royals.
March and April: 8 wins, 1 loss
May: 1 win, 5 losses, 1 no result
By April 27, the Rajasthan Royals had effectively secured their playoff spot, ending up where they did nearly a month later. With 8 wins in 9 games, they surged ahead of the pack and were the first team to assert their dominance in the tournament. Most players had found their form, and there were some pleasant surprises: Riyan Parag in the middle order and Sandeep Sharma in the death overs.
However, a narrow 1-run loss on May 2 left Sanju Samson disheartened and marked the beginning of a decline. This slump was only interrupted by rain in the last league game in Guwahati. Their win in the Eliminator was a brief highlight, but despite a commendable performance with the ball in Qualifier 2, they ultimately fell short of their competitors.
Rajasthan Royals’ Player of the Season: Riyan Parag
Five seasons of patience and investment in Riyan Parag finally paid off for the Royals when they promoted the Assam batter to a more familiar No. 4 role in the middle order. Parag finished the season as the team’s highest run-scorer, amassing 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21. With the RR openers not firing at their best this season, Parag, in the company of Sanju Samson, provided crucial stability in the middle overs, laying the foundation for several of their wins.
He was equally adept against pace and spin and ran energetically between the wickets in testing conditions. While he did drop a few catches, he more than made up for it by taking some sensational grabs and being an ever-reliable fielder at backward point as well as on the boundary.
Rajasthan Royals’ Best Game
In what turned out to be their best game of the season, the Rajasthan Royals faced the in-form Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in an afternoon match, with the heat taking a toll on their players. Already hit hard by injuries and unavailability, the Royals faced an additional challenge when Sunil Narine’s relentless slogging led to his maiden T20 century, propelling KKR to a total that had never been chased down at the venue.
Needing 96 runs off the last six overs with only four wickets remaining and a struggling Jos Buttler battling hamstring and foot pain, the game seemed out of RR’s reach. That’s when the veteran English batter flipped a switch and delivered one of his finest performances, orchestrating an unlikely victory and securing a memorable win for the Royals.
Positives- A Move That Worked For Rajasthan Royals
In a season marked by standout performances from various players such as Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson, the contributions of Yuzvendra Chahal, Riyan Parag, and Sandeep Sharma were pivotal for the Rajasthan Royals’ success. Despite the limelight often focusing on the batsmen and the bowlers’ displays in the Powerplay and death overs, Chahal’s dominance in the middle overs remained a consistent positive.
Over the past three seasons, Chahal has consistently taken wickets, tallying 27, 21, and 18 respectively, with economy rates of 7.75, 8.05, and 9.41. His knack for breaking partnerships at crucial moments proved invaluable, disrupting teams that had strong starts and hampering their efforts in the death overs.
Meanwhile, Riyan Parag emerged as a key player after being promoted to a more familiar No. 4 role in the middle order. His impressive performance as the team’s highest run-scorer, with 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21, provided stability alongside the likes of Sanju Samson, laying the foundation for several victories. Additionally, Sandeep Sharma’s prowess in the death overs with the ball added another dimension to the Royals’ gameplay. Together, the combined efforts of Chahal, Parag, and Sharma exemplified a strategic move that significantly contributed to the Royals’ success in the tournament.
Negatives- A Move That Didn’t Work For Rajasthan Royals
Dhruv Jurel At The Death Overs
Dhruv Jurel entered the season with high expectations following his impressive performance last year and his stint in the India whites during the Test series against England. However, the tournament did not unfold as he had hoped. Despite scoring a fighting half-century in the Royals’ last game, Jurel managed only 195 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 138.29.
This underwhelming performance, coupled with one of the weakest lower orders in the tournament, meant that Rajasthan Royals couldn’t effectively capitalize on the solid performances of their middle order batters. Jurel’s diminished returns in the death overs significantly impacted the team’s ability to finish games strongly.
Stars of This Cycle For Rajasthan Royals
Yuzvendra Chahal
In a season where multiple players shone, including Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal’s contributions stood out as a key factor in Rajasthan Royals’ success. Despite the spotlight often being on the batsmen and the bowlers’ performance in the Powerplay and death overs, Chahal’s dominance in the middle overs was a constant. Over the last three seasons, Chahal has taken 27, 21, and 18 wickets respectively, with economy rates of 7.75, 8.05, and 9.41.
Chahal’s ability to break partnerships at crucial moments proved invaluable. Whether it was disrupting teams that had a strong start or weakening their efforts in the death overs, his knack for taking wickets at important junctures played a significant role in the Royals’ strategy and success.
Who Should They Retain Ahead of The 2025 Mega Auction
While the veteran quartet of Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult has been crucial to their success, the Rajasthan Royals should also look to capitalize on the potential peak performances of their highly-talented youngsters, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag. Sanju Samson should continue in his leadership role.
*Retention/RTM rules ahead of the mega auction haven’t been finalized by the IPL GC. This is just a hypothetical case.
