New Delhi, November 26, 2024
The Rajasthan Royals faced a challenging IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, walking away with mixed results despite securing marquee signings like Jofra Archer and Wanindu Hasaranga. The team, led by mentor Rahul Dravid, struggled to make significant high-profile Indian acquisitions, much to the disappointment of their fans.
With a modest purse of ₹41 crore, Rajasthan entered the auction with limited flexibility, having retained six key players at substantial costs, including skipper Sanju Samson and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, both valued at ₹18 crore. This left the team constrained, particularly in the race for marquee Indian players like Jos Buttler, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj, where their bids fell short.
Key Auction Highlights:
- Rajasthan’s standout signing was the return of Jofra Archer for ₹12.50 crore, a move that solidifies their fast-bowling attack.
- They further bolstered their bowling lineup with the additions of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, adding spin depth for a combined ₹9.65 crore.
- Fast-bowling reinforcements included Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, and Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi.
- Among Indian acquisitions, Nitish Rana stood out as a key batting recruit, signed for ₹4.2 crore.
However, Rajasthan Royals missed out on building a robust batting lineup, a fact not lost on their fans. While the purchase of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old prodigy, grabbed headlines, questions remain about the squad’s ability to deliver in pressure situations.
Rajasthan Royals Squad for IPL 2025:
Retained Players:
- Sanju Samson (₹18 crore)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18 crore)
- Dhruv Jurel (₹14 crore)
- Riyan Parag (₹14 crore)
- Shimron Hetmyer (₹11 crore)
- Sandeep Sharma (₹4 crore)
New Signings:
- Jofra Archer (₹12.50 crore)
- Maheesh Theekshana (₹4.4 crore)
- Wanindu Hasaranga (₹5.25 crore)
- Akash Madhwal (₹1.2 crore)
- Kumar Kartikeya (₹30 lakh)
- Nitish Rana (₹4.2 crore)
- Tushar Deshpande (₹6.5 crore)
- Shubham Dubey (₹80 lakh)
- Yudhvir Singh (₹35 lakh)
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (₹2 crore)
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi (₹1.1 crore)
- Kwena Maphaka (₹1.5 crore)
- Kunal Rathore (₹30 lakh)
- Ashok Sharma (₹30 lakh)
Looking Ahead:
While Rajasthan Royals have undoubtedly strengthened their bowling arsenal, their lack of top-tier batting additions could pose a challenge in IPL 2025. With Sanju Samson leading the charge, the team will need their retained and new recruits to step up and deliver in crucial moments.
Fans remain hopeful that under Rahul Dravid’s mentorship, the Royals will leverage their core strengths and emerging talents to make a strong impact this season.
Stay tuned for more IPL 2025 updates on the Board of Sports in India (BOSI) platform.
