Shane Bond, fast bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), has spoken of the team’s struggles in the Indian Premier League 2025. Things are not looking good for Rajasthan because they are currently ranked ninth on the points table with just two wins from nine matches. They would have only garnered about four points till now. The injury to their captain Sanju Samson has been one of the major reasons affecting them. Samson had missed the first three matches of the season and played as an impact player when he came back. To make matters worse, he aggravated his injury while playing against Delhi Capitals (DC), which put him on the bench for the last two games.
Bond said it’s been quite disappointing that the team lost in several matches when they were considerably ahead. “It’s really tough accepting these losses when we were in control for most of the game, usually for about 35 overs. We’ve played some good cricket and were in positions where winning seemed pretty possible. You do have to hand it to the other teams, though; they’ve just been better when it has mattered most, and it’s painful to think about what could have been. Now we’re sitting with a record of 2 wins and 7 losses, and you can’t help but think about where we could have been if we’d done things differently.
Bond has now accepted the fact that the team is unlikely to go into the playoffs, but he is hopeful. There remains a lot to play for- from finishing the season well to setting up personal landmarks for the players that will help them secure spots for the next season. He further noted, “Even if it looks like we can’t make it to the playoffs, there are still plenty of reasons to keep playing hard. We want to end the season on a high note and give it our best. Plus, for the players, there’s always the desire to show they deserve to stay with the team next season. We know we can play some really good cricket; we just need to polish up our game a bit and seize those key moments that can make a match turn in our favor. If we keep pushing and improve those crucial situations, I believe we can snag some wins.
Looking ahead, the Rajasthan Royals take on the Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 28 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This year, the 2008 champions would wish to overcome the five-match losing streak with good performances to end the season positively. In fact, players and coaches alike will now want their efforts to be rewarded with a strong finish against the odds that have been there throughout this season.
