डेटा शॉर्ट्स: आरआर की चेजिंग वो

RR's Chasing Woes

Rajasthan Royals unearthed a special talent in 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, led their batting in the second half of IPL 2025. The pair got the team off to flying starts in four of their six outings, but the season continued to be a series of could-have-beens.

Their penultimate game against Punjab Kings was no different, as they stumbled in another run-chase from a position of strength.

Including the Super Over finish against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals have now lost eight of the nine games while batting second in IPL 2025. They won the toss in six of them. The only team to lose as many while chasing in an IPL edition was the now defunct Pune Warriors India (twice: in 2012 and 2013 respectively).

RR seemed to have a major void at the top after letting Buttler go. However, Suryavanshi's first taste of IPL was so blistering that Sanju Samson, who has been a regular opener for India in T20Is post the T20 WC 2024, took the No.3 slot on his return. Chasing 220, Jaiswal began with a 22-run over against Arshdeep Singh, and RR notched up 89/1 in the powerplay, their highest ever score in the phase.

At the heart of their batting struggles has been the misfiring middle-order. Shimron Hetmyer, their only specialist overseas batter, has been averaging 21.25 in the IPL since 2024. Samson and Riyan Parag both amassed 500-plus runs in their run to the playoffs last year, but Samson's prolonged absence hasn't helped, while Parag and Dhruv Jurel have been far from consistent.

RR have been the most destructive side in the powerplay in IPL 2025, having gone at 11 runs-per over. However, they have lost the most wickets in the middle-phase among the 10 teams. Post powerplay, they average 22.24 runs per wicket (second lowest) and 8.98 runs-per over (third-lowest).

RR in run-chases in IPL 2025 (phase-wise scores and run-rates)

*indicates innings completed before the 20th over

Their bowling hasn't helped the cause either. RR have comfortably been the worst bowling side on averages and economy rates by a fair distance this season. In the nine games they have bowled first, they have conceded a staggering 214 on average, with seven 200-plus totals (all above 180).