Rajasthan Royals Coach Dishant Yagnik Reflects on IPL Season and Future Prospects
Rajasthan Royals' Season Review
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India] - On May 2, following their elimination from the IPL 2025 playoffs, Rajasthan Royals' fielding coach Dishant Yagnik addressed concerns regarding the franchise's choice not to retain English cricketer Jos Buttler. He emphasized the need to move forward with the current roster and focus on developing new talent.
The Royals had a disappointing season, culminating in a 100-run defeat to the Mumbai Indians in Jaipur. The decision to let go of Buttler, in favor of an Indian batting core featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, captain Sanju Samson, and Dhruv Jurel, faced scrutiny from fans and analysts alike. The absence of Buttler as an experienced batsman and the reliance on Shimron Hetmyer as the only overseas player significantly impacted the team's performance.
During the post-match press conference, Yagnik stated, 'It's time for us to look past discussions about not retaining stars like Buttler. We must forget the past and focus on our current players, including Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson, as we aim for future victories.'
Regarding the absence of high-profile players, he remarked that stars are cultivated rather than purchased. 'No one joins a team as a superstar; they are developed. The players who joined last year are now stars, and those who have come this year will also shine. For example, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's century was a proud moment for everyone,' he added.
Yagnik also commented on Suryavanshi's recent duck, noting that the young player, at just 14, shows remarkable maturity and remains unfazed by media pressure. 'When facing a 140 km/h delivery, timing can be tricky. Players must express themselves freely, which sometimes leads to losing wickets on shots that could have been boundaries,' he explained.
He acknowledged that the team struggled to capitalize on critical moments despite showing dominance in several matches. 'In three games, we were in control but failed to execute during crucial phases. This is a common challenge in cricket,' he noted.
On the decision to bowl first after winning the toss, Yagnik explained, 'At Sawai Mansingh Stadium during night matches, batting in the second innings is generally easier due to dew. The overcast conditions also suggested we might get some swing, which influenced our choice to bowl.'
In the match, RR opted to field first, a decision they soon regretted as MI's openers, Ryan Rickelton (61 off 38 balls) and Rohit Sharma (53 off 36 balls), put together a formidable partnership of 116 runs. Following their dismissals, Suryakumar Yadav (48* off 23 balls) and Hardik Pandya (48* off 23 balls) added 94 runs, propelling MI to a total of 217/2 in 20 overs. Maheesh Theekshana and Riyan Parag each took a wicket.
During the chase, RR struggled against MI's formidable bowling attack, collapsing to 47/5 early on. Jofra Archer was the top scorer for RR with 30 runs, as the team was bowled out for just 117 in 16.1 overs, resulting in a 100-run defeat.
Karn Sharma (3/23) and Trent Boult (3/28) were standout bowlers for MI, while Jasprit Bumrah also contributed with a tight spell of 2/15. Hardik Pandya added another wicket to his tally.
Ryan Rickelton was named 'Player of the Match' for his performance. Currently, MI leads the table with seven wins and four losses, totaling 14 points, while RR sits at the bottom with three wins and eight losses, accumulating just six points.