The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are poised to retain key players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Reports indicate that Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Sandeep Sharma will be kept on the roster. However, England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler and India’s legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal are not part of the retention list. The franchise retains the option to use their two right-to-match (RTM) cards to bring them back at the auction.
Will Rajasthan Royals Retain Dhruv Jurel?
The decision to retain these four players reflects RR’s strategy moving forward. While the specific amounts for each retained player are not yet disclosed, the franchise will lose at least INR 47 crore from their overall purse of INR 120 crore for these retentions. If they decide to include wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who has impressed since joining in 2022, the total deduction could rise to INR 65 crore.
Sanju Samson has been a cornerstone for RR, finishing IPL 2024 with 531 runs at an average of 48.27. His leadership has been pivotal in guiding the team through challenging matches. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal remains a promising talent despite a less stellar season in 2024 compared to his breakout year in 2023.
RR Unlikely to Retain Buttler and Chahal
Riyan Parag also had a productive season in 2024, scoring 573 runs and making his T20I debut for India shortly after. His performances have solidified his position in the team. On the bowling front, Sandeep Sharma had a standout season, taking 13 wickets with an economy rate of 8.18, showcasing his effectiveness during critical match phases.
In contrast, Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, who were instrumental during previous seasons—Buttler winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2022 and Chahal being the Purple Cap winner—are now facing uncertain futures with RR. Buttler had a relatively quiet IPL 2024 with 359 runs, while Chahal took 18 wickets but struggled with an economy rate of 9.41.
Rajasthan Royals Mega Auction Strategy
As the October 31 deadline approaches for franchises to submit their retention lists, RR is still deliberating on Dhruv Jurel’s future with the team. Since being signed for INR 20 lakhs at the 2022 mega auction, Jurel has made a strong case for retention. He has scored 347 runs at a strike rate of 151.52 over 22 innings and made his Test debut for India earlier this year.
The IPL allows teams to retain up to six players before the mega auction, including five capped internationals and two uncapped players. The retention rules stipulate minimum deductions from the auction purse based on player status.
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