In the past three years, Rajasthan Royals ( RR) have made it to the IPL playoffs twice. In the summit match in 2022, the Sanju Samson-led team faced Gujarat Titans and lost. The team management put a lot of thought into assembling their team for the most recent mega-auction, creating a group that had the ideal balance of youth and experience.
They continued to believe in Jos Buttler and invested in Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had an incredible run and became one of the next great Indian prospects. In addition, players like Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag have performed admirably, which presents challenges for Rajasthan before the mega-auction.
The regulations governing the quantity of retentions and application of RTM cards in the upcoming mega auction have not yet been finalised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is unlikely to aid a team in keeping more than five or six players, though. To put it briefly, Rajasthan will need to part ways with a few of its key players. Who might that be? Let’s ascertain:
1. Shimron Hetmyer
In the game’s shortest format, West Indies international Shimron Hetmyer is a formidable opponent. The BCCI is unlikely to permit any club to keep more than two international players, hence the team will be obliged to release him. In that scenario, Trent Boult is probably their second pick, while Jos Buttler is their first.
Hetmyer cost INR 7.75 crore when he was acquired, and he has 726 runs scored in 41 games for the Royals. Rajasthan can try utilising their Right to Match card to get him back because he was very beneficial to the squad in the middle overs. But BCCI has not yet made it clear how they feel about using RTM cards in the upcoming auction.
Concerns should also be raised about his current form. Hetmyer most recently appeared in The Hundred, where he amassed 126 runs with a dismal strike rate of 109.56 in eight games.
2. Prasidh Krishna
For INR 10 crore, the Rajasthan Royals acquired Prasidh Krishna, although he missed two years due to injury. With 19 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 8.28, he was a valuable performer in the 2022 tournament. But ever since, he has struggled with his fitness, missing a number of important competitions.
Rajasthan is probably going to let go of the pacer due to his low level of fitness, as they will have a lot of options in the big auction. Prasidh is still working on getting back to full fitness while he trains at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Plus, he’ll miss the forthcoming Duleep Trophy.
3. Ravichandran Ashwin
It is anticipated that veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will leave the Rajasthan Royals. He was acquired by the team for INR 5 crore at auction, and in his 45 games with the squad, he has taken 35 wickets. Ashwin contributed some crucial runs with the bat as well, helping Rajasthan cross the finish line.
Rajasthan might search the auction for alternative possibilities due to his advanced age. Although the team and management have a great relationship with Ashwin, they may even hire him in the future as a mentor or bowling coach. However, at the moment, it appears tough, particularly since they are expected to keep hold of Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been Rajasthan’s greatest asset when it comes to the ball.
Also Read: IPL 2025: 3 players RR may decide to hold on before the mega-auction
In 212 IPL games, Ashwin has claimed 180 wickets at an economy rate of 7.12. Because of his versatility as a bowler, it wouldn’t be shocking if Rajasthan tried to purchase the cricketer, who was born in Chennai, during the auction.
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