Sunil Gavaskar, anecdotal head-scratcher of Indian cricket legacies, finds himself bewitched by the Rajasthan Royals‘ display, for even strategical mind Leslie’s Rahul Dravid is their he, their head coach. The Royals have been defeated five times straight since that hit by Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 24. It’s safe to say that Gavaskar stands somewhat unimpressed and is questioning their planning and execution during IPL 2025 at the present.
In their latest match against RCB, it was an 11-run defeat for Rajasthan. This again becomes a last laugh for close shavers for a team that has often failed to finish well when faced with such a situation. After the game, Gavaskar spoke to Star Sports and said that on-field awareness seemed to be the kind many would never expect from a side led by someone like Dravid who is known for his detailed approach towards the game.
Gavaskar pointed out that he had seen some earlier matches from a distance, which did not complete the picture of what was happening with the team, but attending the match left him open to things that made him wonder about their decision-making. He said , “With someone like Rahul Dravid as the coach, it’s confusing to see a style of play that seems so unthoughtful. Dravid has always been known for his sharp cricketing mind. I really expected to see that kind of clarity reflected in the approach of the Rajasthan players.”
He went on to say, “Where’s the thought process? Sure, younger players might struggle to get everything right all the time, but there certainly is a level of understanding that would emanate from the coaching staff and their experience.” Gabaskar mentioned that it seems like the team has lost the way and really needs to reevaluate its game.
However, despite Dravid returning to coach the Royals after a great time with the Indian national team, things have not begun to look good for the former and the team in this year’s edition of the tournament. Frustrating ways through which they have been dropping matches include the super-over mishap against Delhi Capitals and a heart-wrenching 2-run defeat to the Lucknow Super Giants. Finally, the defeat at the hands of RCB emphasized once again the enduring trauma the team has had this season as they had to chase down 18 runs in the last over, but failed.
As things stand, the Royals languish near the bottom of the points table, occupying 8th position, having registered victories in only three of their nine outings till now. In a somewhat dim forecast, Riyan Parag, who is carting the captaincy duties, indicated that nothing could be realistically salvaged now. With their next match against the Gujarat Titans, who are leading the table, it looks like the Royals might just be fighting for some respectability rather than a playoff position.
