Rajasthan Royals (RR) are all set to retain most of their big Indian names ahead of the mega auction for the IPL 2025. Skipper Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag are likely to form the core of the RR side. Sandeep Sharma is another name who is all set to be retained.
Barring two seasons (2016 and 2017), Samson has been at the heart of Rajasthan Royals. In fact, he has been their captain since the start of the 2021 season. Last season, he got 531 runs while averaging 48.27 and a strike-rate of 153.46.
Meanwhile, Parag has been with RR for the last six years and he finally repaid the faith of the RR team management with a blistering 2024 edition. He top-scored for RR with 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike-rate of 149.21. Jaiswal has been with RR right from his debut season in 2020. He has racked up 1060 runs in 30 games in the last two seasons with a strike-rate almost touching 160.
Hence, these three were obvious choices for RR. Sandeep Sharma is set to be the uncapped retention. The 31-year-old seamer has picked up 23 wickets in as many matches over the last two editions for RR. He has played just two T20Is for India but those came back in 2015 which qualifies him to be retained in the uncapped quota.
RR may not retain Yuzvendra Chahal and Jos Buttler
According to reports on ESPNcricinfo, other two big names from the RR franchise (Yuzvendra Chahal and Jos Buttler) are unlikely to be retained. The inaugural IPL champions will have the option of retaining them using the Right to Match (RTM) card.
Buttler has been with Rajasthan since 2018 and has been one of their standout batters over the years. The current England white-ball captain has amassed 3055 runs at an average of 41.85 while striking at 147.80 for RR. Meanwhile, Chahal has been their best bowler in the last three years. After being let go by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the Haryana leg-spinner was pouched by RR in 2022. Since then, he has returned with 66 wickets in 46 outings at an economy of 8.42.
Another name that RR are mulling over is that of Dhruv Jurel. The 23-year-old wicket-keeper batter made some vital contributions in the lower order in the last couple of seasons. He has scored 347 runs while striking at 151.53 in his short IPL career so far.
If Rajasthan Royals retain only Samson, Jaiswal and Parag along with Sandeep who will be the uncapped retention, then at least INR 47 crore will be deducted from their purse of INR 120 crore. The slated slabs of 18, 14 and 11 crore for the first three capped retentions. Another INR 4 crore will be deducted for an uncapped player. However, if RR decide to pay more than the slab then that is the amount that will be deducted from their purse, like SRH are going to do for Henrich Klaasen.
