What’s Going Wrong for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025?

The winners of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, Rajasthan Royals, are having a tough time in IPL 2025. After five matches, they are placed 7th on the points table with just two wins and a net run rate of -0.733. The team has struggled to perform consistently, and both batting and bowling departments have failed to deliver when it matters the most. One of the main reasons for their poor form has been the underwhelming performance of their batters. 

The top and middle order haven’t clicked together, leading to below-par totals and unsuccessful chases. On the bowling front, the Royals have heavily relied on Jofra Archer to lead the attack. However, the lack of support from the other end has made it difficult for the team to contain opposition batters or take regular wickets. As the tournament progresses, Rajasthan Royals will need to regroup quickly, find the right balance, and improve in all departments if they want to stay in the playoff race.

Failure of Top-Order and Middle-Order

For the Rajasthan Royals over the years, the batting order has been their biggest strength, but this time in IPL 2025, the story has been different. Despite having some big names and young talents in the squad, the team’s batting performance has not been up to the mark. Their inconsistency with the bat has been a major reason behind their struggles this season. Skipper Sanju Samson has been the most consistent batter for the side so far.

In 5 matches, he has scored 178 runs at an average of 35.60 and a healthy strike rate of 150.84. His lone half-century (66) reflects that while he’s managed to get starts, the rest of the batting unit hasn’t supported him enough to convert those into match-winning totals. Riyan Parag has shown some promise with 135 runs in 5 innings, averaging 33.75 and striking at 160.71. However, he hasn’t been able to convert his starts into a fifty or a big score, which has hurt the team in crunch situations. 

The same goes for Dhruv Jurel, who has scored 124 runs at an average of 31 and a strike rate of nearly 157. While he does have a fifty to his name (70), his overall impact has been limited to just one or two innings. Shimron Hetmyer, known for his finishing abilities, has managed only 140 runs in 5 games at an average of 28. While his strike rate of 153.84 looks good, the lack of big knocks or match-winning performances from his end has been a concern. Similarly, Nitish Rana played one good innings of 81 but has failed in the other matches, ending up with 113 runs at an average of just 22.60. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was expected to give a flying start at the top, has struggled the most. With just 107 runs in 5 matches at an average of 21.40 and a strike rate of 127.38, he hasn’t lived up to expectations. His early dismissals have often put pressure on the middle order. Even their lower-order batter Shubham Dubey, in his limited chances, has scored 44 runs in 3 innings, but hasn’t had the impact the team needed. Overall, the lack of collective and consistent batting efforts, with only one or two players stepping up per game, has left the Rajasthan Royals searching for answers. 

Lack of Support in the Bowling Attack

Just like their batting order, the bowling department of the Rajasthan team has been dependent on only one man, and that is Jofra Archer. Despite his efforts, the lack of consistency and support from the rest of the bowling unit has been one of the key reasons behind the team’s underwhelming performance this season. Archer has picked up 5 wickets in 5 matches with the best of 3/25, but his average of 35.40 and economy rate of 10.11 reflect how even he has struggled to contain runs. 

Wanindu Hasaranga is the only bowler who has made a real impact, with 6 wickets in just 3 matches at an impressive average of 17.50. His strike rate of 11 and best figures of 4/35 show that he’s been sharp, but unfortunately, he hasn’t featured consistently. The rest of the bowling lineup has failed to step up in crucial moments. Maheesh Theekshana has played all 5 matches but has managed only 6 wickets while conceding runs at an economy of 9.70. His average of 32.33 and strike rate of 20 highlight a lack of consistency, and he hasn’t been the match-winner RR would have hoped for. 

Sandeep Sharma, too, has struggled, picking up 5 wickets in 5 games with an economy of 9.22 and an average of over 33. Tushar Deshpande has also been expensive, going at 11.46 runs per over. Despite picking up 5 wickets, his average of 29.80 and best figures of 3/44 underline his erratic spells. Kartikeya, who got just 2 games, couldn’t make much of an impact either, managing a solitary wicket while conceding over 10 runs per over.

What’s Next for Rajasthan Royals

The next 10 days are going to be very important for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. With three matches lined up, it’s a great chance for the team to bounce back and climb up the points table. They will first face Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 13 in Jaipur, followed by an away game against Delhi Capitals on April 16. 

Their third match will be back home against Lucknow Super Giants on April 19. These upcoming fixtures give Rajasthan a golden opportunity to regroup and make a strong comeback. If they can fix their issues in both batting and bowling, and deliver as a unit, they can collect crucial points and get their campaign back on track.