The Rajasthan Royals, champions of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season back in 2008, continue to chase a second title that has remained elusive for 17 years. IPL 2025 has turned into a season of missed chances for the Royals, with the team failing to capitalize on winning positions multiple times. With only two wins from nine matches, Rajasthan Royals sit at the ninth position on the points table, staring at an almost certain early elimination from the playoff race.
Rajasthan’s bowling coach Shane Bond, while speaking to Cricbuzz, opened up about the team’s disappointing run and admitted that it’s highly unlikely they would make it to the playoffs this season. Bond expressed his disappointment at how the Royals lost games despite dominating for long phases and stressed the importance of making the most of the remaining matches.
“The hardest thing is that, for 35 overs of games we have played really well and in fact have been in control in some games and probably got into positions where we should have won,” Bond remarked. “You have to give credit to the opposition, they were good enough in those tight moments to go over the top of us and win those games.”
The former New Zealand pacer acknowledged that the team’s position—2 wins and 7 losses—hurts even more when they reflect on how close they were to several victories.
“I suppose that’s what hurts us. We’re 2 (wins) and 7 (losses), and go, jeez, where we could sit on the table, but there’s nothing we can do about that now. We’re probably out of the tournament in terms of the points table, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to play for. Obviously, as a team, we want to make sure we finish the season strong and continue playing well, but also for individuals there’s a lot to play for, for the next season, wanting to stay with the franchise,” he added.
Bond Defends Bowlers, Points Out Batting Failures
While analyzing the reasons behind Rajasthan Royals’ underwhelming campaign, Bond defended the bowlers, emphasizing that despite some expensive overs, the bowling unit had largely done a commendable job, particularly in the last few games. Instead, he pinned the responsibility on the batters for not finishing matches after getting into strong positions.
“We’ve had some big overs, there’s no denying that, we’ve had some bowlers who have had some tough days but that’s probably been the same for a number of bowlers and teams throughout the tournament,” Bond said. “Collectively as a bowling unit, especially over the last three games, we’ve done a pretty good job and kept the opposition to scores, perhaps we should have chased down.”
According to Bond, it was during the crucial middle and death overs where RR’s batting failed to capitalize, letting the opposition claw their way back into games that should have been comfortably sealed.
Royals Eye a Strong Finish
Though their playoff hopes hang by the thinnest of threads, Rajasthan Royals are determined to finish the season on a high. The focus now shifts to playing for pride and personal performance, as several players will be keen to impress and secure their futures with the franchise for the next season.
Rajasthan Royals will next face Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday, April 28, in Jaipur. With pride and potential contracts at stake, the Royals would be eager to showcase their best cricket and end a dismal season on a positive note.
