The Rajasthan Royals' play during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has been subpar. Due to a side strain, regular captain Sanju Samson has been absent from the franchise for the majority of games, and he will also be out for the forthcoming match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. After suffering six losses in eight games, the franchise is currently in the bottom half of the points standings.

In the last over against the Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, the Royals were unable to catch nine runs. In the Super Over, they were defeated by Delhi, and they were two runs behind Rishabh Pant and his teammates.

Several tactical errors have brought harsh criticism against RR. Their lineup is up for debate. The choice of the Rajasthan management to put Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Super Over against Delhi Capitals drew a lot of flak.

Anil Kumble, a former Test captain of India and a JioStar specialist during "Revenge Week," shared his thoughts on RR's difficulties this season. The renowned cricketer endorsed Shimron Hetmyer's ascent in the batting order and stated that he does not like teams using a right-left combination. This year, Hetmyer has mostly been employed as a finisher.

"There is no predetermined batting order in the T20 format. There isn't a predetermined sequence for bowling. Everybody must be able to adapt. If I go to the captain as a spinner and inform him that I am unable to bowl in the power play and may only bowl after six overs, I am not allowed to do so. "That's not a good thing," Kumble said in response to a question from the Hindustan Times.

"In the same way, as a batter, you can't have a fixed pattern saying; I can only bat after 15 overs." The key is to comprehend the circumstance and make the most of your available resources. We sometimes become overly focused on this right-left mix.

"Someone like Shimron Hetmyer, who is known as a finisher, needs to be given the appropriate chance. In a perfect world, he wouldn't have to enter the game when you need more than 13 or 14 runs. It's best to dispatch him when you need 8, 9, or 10 of them since you have a better chance of winning," he continued.

Kumble thinks that the team's prospects for this season have been harmed by the fact that Samson has been unavailable for the majority of contests.

"The absence of Sanju Samson is a major issue. He is a crucial member of the Rajasthan Royals, and Yashaswi's strong performance at the plate is undoubtedly beneficial to the club.

Kumble surprised RR didn't retain Buttler

Kumble I was also shocked that the Rajasthan Royals did not keep Jos Buttler, who is now tearing up the ground for the Gujarat Titans.

"For a period, Jos Buttler was the most important player for the Rajasthan Royals. The former India spinner, who has 619 Test wickets to his credit, said that he was essential in destroying the opposition on his own.

"I was a little shocked that RR didn't keep him. But given their squad, they ought to have won both games. It occurs. It has occurred to a large number of clubs. You'll somewhat lose from a winning position. That is something that they will certainly have to evaluate. They have the squad otherwise. They do have the squad to defeat any team in this competition. It's all about realizing that you don't abandon the charge until the very end. In certain circumstances, teams are able to win. However, when you're not doing it, you can think of it as if you only have 19 overs to chase instead of 20. That might somewhat aid Rajasthan," he said.

RCB haven't assessed conditions at home

Kumble, who previously served as captain for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), believes the franchise has misinterpreted the circumstances in its own backyard. The team led by Rajat Patidar has lost every game played at home thus far.

"It's simply adjusting to the situation. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is often seen as a flat pitch, but with the way these young hitters are performing and the caliber of impact players currently there, you need 250. Therefore, batting first becomes a little difficult. What makes a score good? However, you still need to evaluate the situation. Perhaps RCB hasn't done a great job with that. The fact that I have a soft spot for RCB, especially when they're hitting first, makes Virat an extremely crucial member of the team," Kumble said.

"Because all the batters around him seem to want to truly attack from ball one. That is their only mantra. However, in my opinion, the key to establishing a solid foundation are those two: Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. I was also a bit astonished, especially when RCB faced Punjab. I'm aware that the game was a short-haul one. The fact that they did not select Devdutt Padikkal. Because I thought he was a missing piece in that game. However, it's only a question of when. They triumphed the previous year. This year is no exception. They have only lost this year, not every game they have played," he said.

Don't miss the thrilling TATA IPL 2025 "Revenge Week," which will run live and only on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network from April 20 to 26, and will feature Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Rajasthan Royals today at 7:30 PM.

Read Also: Alcaraz’s Madrid Withdrawal Sparks Fitness Fears for Roland Garros Defense

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!