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After a season filled with disappointment and missed opportunities, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) find themselves at a crossroads following their early and crushing exit from IPL 2025. Once again, the inaugural champions have failed to live up to their potential, leaving fans and management searching for answers and demanding change.
What went wrong for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025?
The 2025 campaign was nothing short of a nightmare for Rajasthan Royals. Their season was marred by a string of injuries to key players, including captain Sanju Samson, who struggled with fitness and missed crucial matches due to a finger injury and a side strain. The team’s on-field performances mirrored their off-field woes, with RR losing eight out of their first eleven matches and crashing out of the playoff race after a humiliating 100-run defeat to Mumbai Indians.
Several factors contributed to this disastrous run:
- Faulty retention and auction strategy: RR’s decision to release stalwarts like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult backfired spectacularly. All three found success with other franchises, while RR failed to secure adequate replacements, leaving glaring holes in both batting and bowling.
- Inconsistent batting and bowling: The Royals’ batting lineup repeatedly collapsed under pressure, and their bowlers struggled to contain opposition batters, often conceding big totals and failing to deliver at the death.
- Leadership Instability: With Samson sidelined, the captaincy shifted to Riyan Parag, but the move failed to inspire a turnaround, and the team’s morale visibly dipped as losses piled up.
5 players Rajasthan Royals should release from their current IPL 2025 squad
Rajasthan Royals are expected to make significant changes to their squad. Here are five players who are likely to be released after underwhelming performances this season:
- Shimron Hetmyer
Retained for a hefty ₹11 crore, Hetmyer managed just 187 runs in 10 innings at an average of 20.77, failing to finish games and struggling in pressure situations. His inability to deliver as a finisher may prompt RR to look for a more consistent overseas batter.
- Tushar Deshpande
Bought for ₹6.5 crore, Deshpande’s season was disappointing, with only six wickets in eight matches and an economy rate over 11. His lack of penetration with the ball and high price tag makes him a likely candidate for release.
- Maheesh Theekshana
Despite taking 11 wickets in 11 matches, Theekshana failed to make a significant impact in key moments. RR may opt for a different overseas spinner who can offer more consistency and control.
- Dhruv Jurel
Retained for a massive ₹14 crore, Jurel’s returns with the bat were poor, and he often failed to close out matches. RR may choose to release him and invest in a new Indian wicketkeeper-batter.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
Acquired for ₹2 crore, Farooqi went wicketless in several games and failed to provide the cutting-edge RR needed in their bowling attack. His place in the squad is under serious threat.
The Royals’ management faces a crucial off-season, with tough decisions ahead. Releasing these underperforming players could free up significant funds and slots, allowing RR to rebuild and return stronger in IPL 2026. The franchise’s fans will be hoping for a bold, strategic overhaul-one that finally brings the glory days back to Jaipur.
Also READ: IPL 2025: 5 players Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) should release from their current squad
