The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a nightmare for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), a franchise that reached the finals in 2022 and secured a strong third-place finish last season. This year, however, the Royals find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table, with just two wins from their first eight matches and their playoff hopes all but dashed by early May.
The team’s struggles have sparked intense debate among fans, experts, and even local cricket officials, with many questioning what exactly went wrong for the once-promising side.
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Rajasthan Royals Performance Analysis
Excessive Top-Order Dependency
A deep dive into RR’s match scorecards reveals a glaring over-reliance on their top three batters. On average, the top order contributes over 72% of the team’s total runs. When players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Dhruv Jurel fire, Rajasthan can challenge any team. However, if they fail, the middle and lower orders have consistently struggled to bail the team out.
This lack of batting depth has been particularly evident in matches against strong bowling sides like Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans, where RR posted below-par totals after early wickets.
Inconsistent Middle-Order and Lack of Finishers
The middle-order, comprising players like Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, has failed to deliver consistently. Their inability to accelerate or rebuild after early setbacks has left the Royals vulnerable in crunch situations. Even in matches where the top order gave a strong start, the middle and lower middle order could not capitalize, resulting in several close losses.
The absence of a reliable finisher has cost RR dearly in tight chases, as seen in their heartbreaking two-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants, where they faltered in the final overs despite being well set.
Inability to Adapt to Match Situations
Rajasthan Royals have failed to adapt their game plan according to the match situation and pitching conditions, and opposing teams. Their lowest match score remained at 151, while reaching 242 points served as their maximum score since 2019 because of limited strategic adaptability.
Many of Rajasthan Royals’ matches have been decided during the pivotal middle overs period of 7 to 15 which the team has trouble linking successful partnerships. The team’s inconsistent approach has resulted in multiple batting failures while making them incapable of seizing victory or holding down challenging scores.
Injury Woes and Leadership Instability
The Rajasthan Royals have faced numerous important injuries to their vital roster members simultaneously. The absence of regular captain Sanju Samson due to a side strain has compelled Riyan Parag to step into the vacancy while Samson treated his injury for half the season.
Samson’s absence from the team is noticeable in both matches and batting situations where his steadiness brings essential balance to the Rajasthan Royals. The team suffered significant bowling losses when Wanindu Hasaranga and Sandeep Sharma got injured, which resulted in multiple game appearances using subpar playing teams.
Questionable Auction Decisions and Team Balance
The problems affecting the Rajasthan Royals started before the first delivery of the season. The Rajasthan Royals made a mistake when they let go of Jos Buttler, who secured the 2022 Orange Cap as a match-winning player, but failed to obtain adequate replacement personnel.
The overseas slots on the team have led to mismanagement because multiple high-quality players contest for limited availability, and no definite starting eleven has been crafted. Playing without an established bowling all-rounder has made their difficulties worse because it weakens their performance both batting and bowling.
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Management’s Response and Fans’ Reaction
Management’s Stand
In response to the team’s poor performance, RR management has publicly addressed the challenges they have faced this season. They have refuted allegations of match-fixing made by Jaideep Bihani, the ad-hoc committee convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, calling the claims “baseless and false.”
The franchise has also clarified that all IPL matches in Jaipur are being organized in close coordination with the BCCI and the Rajasthan Sports Council, as per the guidelines and support of the state government.
The Royals have stressed that they are working hard to turn things around, with coach Rahul Dravid urging the team to take one game at a time and play with freedom. The management has also emphasized the importance of player fitness and long-term planning, choosing to rest key players like Samson rather than risk further injury.
Fan and Expert Reactions
Fans have released their outrage through social media channels by questioning the tactical decisions and team selection alongside the auction strategical moves of the organization.
A permanent starting eleven along with closing out competitive matches have proven to be the biggest areas of criticism. The experts agree that Rajasthan Royals faces multiple problems including inadequate team depth combined with poor management and unlucky injuries.
Conclusion: What Next for Rajasthan Royals?
The Rajasthan Royals’ performance in the 2025 IPL season included several avoidable mistakes alongside unlucky circumstances and planning failures. Rajasthan Royals’ poor league position results from their excessive focus on powerful hitters and inconsistent middle-order batting, alongside their inability to make necessary changes in matches. The team’s existing problems are aggravated by injuries to their essential players and value errors made during the player auctions.
The future success of the Rajasthan Royals depends on their immediate action regarding these critical problems to recover next year. The management team needs to create a better squad equilibrium by developing middle-order players and by improving fitness protocols for their main players. The Royals need to make these changes to return to their previous success and fight for an IPL championship victory.
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