Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been ousted from the IPL 2025 playoffs after a significant defeat by Mumbai Indians in Jaipur. With only three victories from 11 matches, Aakash Chopra and Abhinav Mukund have pointed to the team’s retention and auction decisions as a root cause.
The Royals allocated 79 crore of their 120-crore purse for retaining Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma. High-profile players like Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, and Yuzvendra Chahal were released and not reclaimed in the auction.
Chopra critiqued the decision on ESPNcricinfo Time Out, questioning if an all-Indian batting line-up, led by Samson and Hetmyer as the sole overseas option, was wise. “Without a senior statesman like Buttler, is this mix genuinely viable?” he pondered. “While youth brings potential, it can be erratic without seasoned guidance.”
Regarding finances, Chopra argued against retaining Jurel for 14 crore and Hetmyer for 11 crore, suggesting this restricted their budget for bowlers. “I doubt Jurel or Hetmyer would command such amounts at auction,” he stated. This decision reportedly impacted their ability to form a balanced bowling line-up, despite acquiring Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana— all of whom faced challenges this season.
Reflecting on Archer’s performance, BCCI data shows he has taken ten wickets at a costly economy rate of 9.66 over 11 matches. This statistic fuels the discussion on the Royals’ bowling strategy, especially regarding the investment in overseas players.
Abhinav Mukund shared Chopra’s viewpoint: “Their most expensive bowler is Archer, yet local talent selections didn’t pan out. Tushar Deshpande, bought for 6.5 crore, was benched for recent games.” This highlights missteps in domestic picks and investments, focusing on better use of funds and bolstering local talent.
Ultimately, these insights point to strategic choices in retention and auction that limited their competitive edge, as the Royals navigate challenges in team composition and financial allocations.
