News Summary:

In the ongoing IPL 2025 season, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive. After suffering their seventh defeat in nine matches, RR faced yet another run-chase disaster in their recent game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The loss has left fans and pundits alike wondering what went wrong for the team, especially with such a stellar name as Rahul Dravid leading the charge as coach.

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was vocal in his criticism of the team’s performance, remarking, “With someone like Rahul Dravid, it’s baffling.” Gavaskar expressed his disbelief at the fact that, under the mentorship of a cricketing icon like Dravid, Rajasthan Royals continue to falter in crucial moments during run-chases. The team's failure to finish strong in these tight situations has become a recurring theme this season.

Gavaskar’s Disappointment:

Sunil Gavaskar, one of India's greatest batsmen, highlighted that RR's inability to close out matches when chasing a target has been perplexing. "This is a team with enough experience, and Dravid is one of the best minds in the game, yet they’ve struggled to put it together. It's simply baffling," Gavaskar commented during a post-match analysis.

The latest defeat, a crushing blow to Rajasthan's IPL hopes, saw them fall short of a competitive total set by RCB. RR’s middle-order collapse was the primary cause of the defeat, as they failed to execute their chase despite the efforts of their top-order batsmen. In a season that started with high hopes, Rajasthan’s inability to finish matches consistently is now a serious concern.

RR’s IPL 2025 Struggles:

Seventh Loss in Nine Matches: Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2025 season has been marred by inconsistency. Their latest defeat against RCB adds to a growing list of disappointing run-chases.

Underwhelming Middle-Order: RR's middle-order, including big names like Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, and Devdutt Padikkal, has failed to provide stability when the team needs it the most.

Captaincy Pressure: Despite the presence of talented players, there is growing scrutiny on Sanju Samson’s captaincy as RR struggles to find their rhythm.

Dravid's Impact: Dravid, whose expertise in building resilient teams is well-known, faces the challenge of instilling consistency into a squad full of potential but short on execution.

Looking Ahead:

As the season progresses, Rajasthan Royals will need to reassess their approach to high-pressure chases. The team has the skills but appears to lack the mental fortitude to execute in the final overs. Whether the solution lies in tactical changes, a shift in leadership, or finding the right balance in the squad remains to be seen.

Dravid’s leadership and experience will certainly be tested in the coming weeks. RR's next few matches will be crucial for them to turn their fortunes around and make a push for the playoffs. However, their performance against RCB has raised doubts about whether they can handle the pressure of run-chases in this highly competitive IPL season.

Expert Opinions:

Ian Bishop, a former West Indian cricketer and current commentator, shared similar sentiments. “This is the biggest issue facing Rajasthan Royals at the moment. When you have the likes of Dravid at the helm and experienced players like Sanju Samson, it’s difficult to understand why they can’t execute in these crunch moments.”

Impact on IPL 2025 Standings:

With this defeat, Rajasthan Royals find themselves on the bottom half of the IPL 2025 points table, and their qualification for the playoffs looks uncertain. Every loss from here on out puts them in an even more precarious position. As Gavaskar rightly pointed out, the team's mental strength, especially in high-pressure situations like chasing targets, will be key to their recovery in the second half of the season.

Conclusion:

As Rajasthan Royals struggle to live up to expectations in IPL 2025, the team faces significant challenges ahead. Sunil Gavaskar’s critique of the team’s inconsistent performances, especially in run-chases, points to a deeper issue within the squad. Whether Rahul Dravid’s influence can help turn things around or if Rajasthan Royals will continue to be haunted by their run-chase woes remains to be seen in the coming weeks.