Rajasthan Royals (RR) will find it hard to choose their retentions and releases since all of them were massively skilled and specialised in their respective departments.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) were one of the most consistent teams in the previous cycle, qualifying for playoffs twice in three attempts. They qualified for the final in the 2022 edition, losing to Gujarat Titans (GT), and ended as the third-best team in the latest edition.
They had a solid unit, with specialists for each role, who did their job consistently. Hence, the upcoming mega auction will be harsh for RR, for they prepared a solid team but will have to break the combination now.
They will find it hard to choose their retentions and releases since all of them were massively skilled and specialised in their respective departments.
Capped Players in RR Retention List:
Sanju Samson: Sanju Samson will undoubtedly be the first retention of Rajasthan Royals. A solid player of pace and spin, Samson has been at the centre of things for the franchise. Further, he has also led his team successfully in the previous cycle, making them a force.
There’s no reason to let him come into the auction. If he comes up for sale, Samson’s price will surge massively, and RR might not be able to get him back.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: Another obvious choice to retain, Yashasvi Jaiswal should be RR’s second pick. He is also a terrific player of pace and spin and among the best young talents going around in world cricket. He has churned out consistent performances for the team.
Further, he is a long-term investment and knows the modus operandi of the franchise inside out. There’s no reason to leave him. His auction value will be massive.
Also Read: LSG Retention List for IPL 2025: Predicting Strategy to Retain and Release Players Ahead of Mega Auction
Jos Buttler: RR had the strongest top three in the last few years. Jos Buttler was among the most consistent overseas batters in the previous cycle. Given what he did for the franchise, Buttler will surely be retained by the franchise.
He is among the best innings-builders in T20 cricket and can keep the wickets. If he comes into the auction, his price will become very high, and RR might end up paying more than the retention slab. Maybe his recent injury issues might be a concern, but RR should still keep him.
Riyan Parag: No team has invested as much as Rajasthan Royals did in Riyan Parag. Despite years of underperformance, RR kept him because of his superior skillsets. The trust finally paid last season when Parag performed consistently while batting at No.4.
He is slowly finding his feat as a batter and can also chip in with the ball. Given he will be a long-term investment, his auction value will be massive. Hence, RR should simply place him in one of the retention slots and not let him come into the auction.
Uncapped Player in RR Retention List:
Sandeep Sharma: Sandeep Sharma has been a revelation in the previous two editions while playing for Rajasthan Royals. Despite bowling in tough phases, Sandeep executed his plans brilliantly. He was economical and among wickets.
His recent heroics will raise his price in this mega auction. So, RR can simply retain him in the uncapped category since his last India outing came in 2015. RR will get a solid all-phase bowler with vast experience at just INR 4 crores.
Notable Exclusions:
Trent Boult: Trent Boult was among the best performers of RR in the previous cycle. However, he might still not be retained by the franchise because of a problem of plenty. Further, Boult’s best value is in powerplay, but he is prone in other phases.
Moreover, several quality overseas bowlers will be available, so his price might be reduced to an extent. Hence, RR can re-bid for him or use RTM if they want during the auction rather than retaining him.
Yuzvendra Chahal: Yuzvendra Chahal was RR’s best bowler, but again, RR have a problem of plenty. They will have to leave out Chahal to remain flexible during the auction. As the last mega auction showed, there will be plenty of leg-spinners available, even if not as skilled as Chahal.
So, his price will surely reduce and won’t be close to the retention slab. If they go in with only five retentions, RR can remain flexible, and if Chahal’s price is not exaggeratingly high, they can use RTM on him. Generally, the leg-spinners who can’t bat don’t get sold for a very high price.
Dhruv Jurel: RR would have definitely retained Dhruv Jurel if he were uncapped. However, since RR can’t retain him in the uncapped category, they will have to leave him. Despite being immensely talented, Dhruv’s performances in the latest season weren’t as consistent with the willow.
That will certainly play a role in his release. If RR retain him, they will have to give him at least INR 11 crores, but his auction price won’t be as high. Hence, RR can still re-bid him, and if they don’t use RTM on one of Boult or Chahal, they can use it on Dhruv during the auction.
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