 "Early impressions of Rajasthan Royals: Why former champions have lost 2/2 and can they reach playoffs")
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have endured a tough start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign, suffering back-to-back defeats in their opening two games. After going down against last year’s finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 44 runs in their opening game, the inaugural winners lost to defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 8 wickets on Wednesday.
While it is still early days in the tournament, Rajasthan Royals’ performances raise concerns about their playoff chances in IPL 2025. Let’s analyse their struggles so far and assess if RR can turn things around.
A record-breaking defeat against SRH
RR’s campaign began with a high-scoring clash against SRH in Hyderabad, where they were blown away by an onslaught from Ishan Kishan and Travis Head. SRH posted a mammoth 286/6, with Kishan hammering an unbeaten 106 off just 47 balls and Head smashing 67 off 31. This is the second-highest score in IPL history.
In response, RR fought valiantly but fell short by 44 runs, finishing at 242/6. Dhruv Jurel top-scored with a blazing 70 off 35 balls, while Sanju Samson chipped in with 66 off 37. However, their bowling attack, especially Jofra Archer (0/76 in four overs), was brutally exposed, recording the most expensive spell in IPL history.
Lackluster batting display against KKR
Their second match against KKR in Guwahati further highlighted their batting vulnerabilities. After being asked to bat first, RR managed only 151/9. A promising start by Yashasvi Jaiswal (29 off 24) and Riyan Parag (25 off 15) was undone by KKR’s spin duo Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Moeen Ali (2/23), who dismantled RR’s middle order.
Despite a late push from Jofra Archer (16 off 7), their total proved insufficient. KKR’s chase was anchored by Quinton de Kock, who remained unbeaten on 97 off 61 balls. RR’s bowlers failed to make a significant impact, allowing KKR to cruise to an eight-wicket victory. Archer once again finished as their ost expensive bowler in terms of economy rate.
Can RR still make the IPL 2025 playoffs?
While a 0-2 start is concerning, it is not the end of the road for RR. They have a strong squad with quality players who can turn things around. Here’s what they need to do:
With the league stage still in its early phase, the Rajasthan Royals have time to recover. However, they must address their shortcomings quickly to stay in the playoff race.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsJofra Archer, who is RR’s primary bowler in the powerplay, needs to find form quickly. Additionally, Rajasthan must ensure stability in their batting lineup. Sanju Samson’s return as captain will also be a major boost to RR moving forward in the tournament.
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