Rajasthan Royals is a cricket franchise that debuted in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. RR were the winners of the first-ever IPL under the leadership of Shane Warne. However, the team struggled in the playoffs stage from 2009 to 2012. Rajasthan Royals were suspended from the IPL for two years in connection with a betting scandal. RR made a comeback in 2018 and reached the playoffs. Was eliminated in the group stage in the next three editions. Rajasthan Royals have had notable players such as Shane Warne, Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Jos Buttler, and Ajinkya Rahane.
Rajasthan Royals have always been a team with a flair for the unpredictable. From the first season of the IPL, RR have been the team to watch, not because they’re always the strongest. But because they have this knack for pulling off the impossible.
From underdog wins to nail-biting finishes, or finding unknown talents and turning them into stars. Rajasthan Royals has always been a team full of surprises. And at the heart of it all are their captains: some legends, some quiet heroes, but all unique in their own way.
What To Look Forward In 2025 For RR
Rajasthan Royals will be stepping into IPL 2025 as one of the strongest contenders for a place in the playoffs. Over the years, the inaugural champions have been led by numerous captains but in wicketkeeper, Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals have found a true match-winner. Samson, who donned the captain’s hat in 2021, has led Rajasthan Royals to the playoffs twice, which includes one final appearance against Gujarat Titans in 2022. For IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals retained Samson as their skipper, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, and Shimron Hetmyer.
The biggest strength of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 is their batting order, which includes the likes of Samson, Jaiswal, Parag, Jurel, etc. After his heroics for India in the T20Is in 2024, Samson is expected to open the proceedings with Jaiswal and the duo can create a lot of trouble for the opposition bowlers. Apart from them, Parag showed his true mettle in 2024 and will aim to play many more big knocks for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming season.
New Addition For Rajasthan Royals This Season
IPL 2025 can be a make it or break it year for pacer Jofra Archer, whose career has been marred with injuries. Archer began his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and was a crucial part of their bowling lineup before he was released in 2022. Apart from Archer, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was bought at a whopping sum of Rs 1.1 crore, will also look to leave a mark in the IPL. Rajasthan Royals possess one of the strongest top-order batting lineups in IPL 2025, anchored by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Jaiswal stands out with 1060 runs at a strike rate of 154.74, making him the team’s most prolific scorer. Samson complements this with 893 runs at 147.12, providing a formidable opening partnership.
This top-heavy approach has yielded significant dividends as evidenced by their overall batting scores of 84 and 83 respectively. Rajasthan Royals has wisely invested in developing a strong Indian core, retaining key players like Riyan Parag (651 runs, SR: 137.05) and Dhruv Jurel (347 runs, SR: 146.41). These investments are reflected in their retention costs, with all four Indian batters being retained for 14-18 crore each. This core provides stability and continuity to the Rajasthan Royals team structure.
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RR: What Needs To Be Addressed
During the auction, RR played strategically but ended up losing big names like Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Though they have included Maheesh Theekshana and Hasaranga as their spinners but Chahal and Ashwin’s absence is going to haunt Rajasthan Royals. Apart from this, the Rajasthan royals squad also does not have any proper overseas batter. Despite the strong top order, there’s a noticeable drop in batting prowess in the middle order. After Riyan Parag, there’s a significant decline in proven middle-order specialists. Shimron Hetmyer shoulders considerable responsibility without adequate support. Several squad members like Shubham Dubey, Ashok Sharma, and Kumar Kartikeya all have an overall score of 0. Indicating limited proven IPL experience in the last two years. This lack of depth could be problematic if injuries occur to key players during the tournament.
Rajasthan Royals: Overall Preview
The 18th season of the Indian Premier League is knocking at the doors of the cricket fans. The grandest league in the world has seen lot of evolutions and changes in these 17 years. It has seen the domination of teams like MI and CSK. And the rise of new teams like Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.
However, if we turn the clock back 17 years, the inaugural champions were the Rajasthan Royals. Since then RR have had some promising seasons but failed to lift the trophy. As the 2025 season starts, the RR fans will hope that the jinx breaks this season. The team under the leadership of Sanju Samson wins their second title. No doubt that he is a good captain and can make wonders.
Based on objective data analysis, RR presents a mixed picture for IPL 2025. Their squad composition reveals significant strengths but also critical weaknesses that will likely lead to inconsistent performances throughout the season. The data shows a heavy reliance on just three batters (Jaiswal, Samson, and Parag) who contribute most of their runs. This lack of batting depth is concerning. The bowling attack, while featuring Tushar Deshpande (38 wickets), shows concerning economy rates above 8.5 for most bowlers.
Rajasthan Royals will likely finish in the middle of the table (5th-7th position). While RR has enough firepower to win several matches. Their structural weaknesses in middle-order batting and death bowling will prevent consistent performance across the tournament. Expect flashes of brilliance interrupted by frustrating collapses, ultimately missing playoff qualification by a small margin.
