What's New with Rajasthan Royals in the New IPL Cycle?

In a significant move for the Rajasthan Royals, Rahul Dravid has returned to the role of head coach. His mission is clear: to lead the Royals to another IPL title, a feat they last achieved in 2008. Joining him in this journey is Vikram Rathour, who will serve as the batting coach.

Squad Changes: New Faces and Departures

While Rajasthan Royals made full use of their six retention spots, the team has undergone a notable shuffle in its roster. Key players like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Trent Boult have been released. Despite losing senior players, the Royals have strengthened their bowling department with younger replacements and additional pace options, including Jofra Archer.

The team has made strategic purchases to bolster their bowling, ensuring a range of combinations to adapt to different match conditions. However, batting depth remains a concern, with key issues in back-up options and death-hitting capabilities.

Full Squad for IPL 2025

• Batsmen: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore
• All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana
• Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Yudhvir Singh
• Captain: Sanju Samson (c/wk)

Best Starting XI as Things Stand

• Top Order: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Nitish Rana
• Middle Order: Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Dubey
• All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal/Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi/Maheesh Theekshana

Injury and Availability Updates

• Sanju Samson, recovering from a right index finger fracture, has passed his fitness test for batting. However, full clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) is still awaited.
• Tushar Deshpande, who underwent ankle surgery last year, has not played since September 2024 and missed the entire domestic season.

Player to Watch: Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana enters the season with something to prove. Despite consistent performances in the IPL, Rana's career has faced setbacks, including limited opportunities in the previous season with Kolkata Knight Riders. After a tough domestic season, Rana will look to make an impact in this IPL cycle and push for a regular spot in the playing XI.

Breakout Player: Dhruv Jurel

Dhruv Jurel is poised for a breakout season. The young wicketkeeper-batsman has shown flashes of promise, but his ability to deliver in key moments will be critical for Rajasthan Royals. Retained for a hefty INR 14 Crore, Jurel's performance could be a turning point in his T20 career.

Fixture and Schedule: A Busy Campaign

Rajasthan Royals will face a hectic travel schedule in the IPL 2025 season, with only a few stretches of back-to-back games at one venue (Guwahati and Jaipur). Their longest break will come after the eighth match, from April 19 to 24.

Home Ground Stat to Watch: Sawai Mansingh Stadium

At Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, toss hasn’t been a significant factor in the last 10 games, with both teams batting first and second winning an equal number of times. However, pace bowlers have struggled here, with the worst average and strike rate among all IPL venues over the past two seasons.

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