Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid expressed his disappointment following the team’s 10th defeat of the IPL 2025 season, admitting the squad has “not been good enough” across all departments. After a crushing 219-run chase failure against Punjab Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, RR now sits ninth on the table with just one win to their name.
Batting, Bowling Both to Blame
Although RR’s batting has faced heavy criticism, Dravid believes their problems are far more widespread.
“There’s no point just blaming the batsmen,” said Dravid in the post-match press conference. “It wasn’t a 220 pitch — more like 195-200 — but we gave away 20 extra runs.”
The Royals’ bowling attack, lacking key players like Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma, has repeatedly allowed opponents to set mammoth targets. In nine of their ten chases this season, the opposition has posted 200 or more, putting relentless pressure on RR’s batting unit.
Failure to Finish Strong Starts
Despite several games with promising starts, the Royals have failed to seal the deal.
“We’ve gotten close, but just haven’t been able to finish,” Dravid explained. “That lower-middle order hasn’t clicked when it matters most.”
The trend began with narrow chases — such as falling short by 9 runs in the final over against DC and LSG, and again against RCB needing just 18 off two overs. In all cases, RR fell short due to a lack of big hits at the death, despite not losing many wickets.
Final Match: A Fight for Pride
Rajasthan Royals wrap up a forgettable season on Tuesday against fellow strugglers Chennai Super Kings in Delhi. With only pride and the avoidance of the wooden spoon at stake, Dravid hopes the team can end the campaign on a positive note.
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