Rajasthan Royals' (RR) woes in IPL 2025 continued on Thursday as they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, falling to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a tight clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite promising innings from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, RR dramatically collapsed during the final overs. Needing just 18 runs from 12 balls, Rajasthan managed to score only one run in the 19th over, bowled brilliantly by Josh Hazlewood, and ultimately lost the match by 11 runs. The loss marked yet another close defeat for Rajasthan, following earlier heartbreaks against Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. The latest performance drew harsh criticism from legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who did not hold back in his analysis of RR’s gameplay and even mentioned head coach Rahul Dravid in his comments.
Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes Rajasthan Royals' Approach and Mentions Rahul Dravid
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar expressed his disappointment over the team's lack of strategic thinking. “With Rajasthan Royals, I'm actually talking about the earlier matches where I wasn't at the ground—I just saw them. So, you're not always able to get the feeling of what's really happening. But here, I was at the ground, and you could actually see the kind of cricket that was being played,” Gavaskar said.
Taking it further, he questioned the impact of head coach Rahul Dravid, known for his meticulous and calculated approach during his playing days. "With someone like Rahul Dravid as the coach, it was quite baffling—it was unthinking cricket. Dravid was always so precise in his thinking, and I would've thought that kind of approach would've seeped into some of the Rajasthan batters," Gavaskar added. Gavaskar stressed that while young, inexperienced players can be forgiven for occasional errors, the overall lack of planning and composure was alarming. “Where is the thought process there? You can't expect inexperienced players to always get it right, but still... It's just a different kind of cricket,” he remarked.
Josh Hazlewood Stars for RCB With Match-Winning Performance
While Rajasthan Royals faltered, it was RCB’s seamer Josh Hazlewood who rose to the occasion. Delivering a match-defining spell, Hazlewood picked up 4 wickets for 33 runs, using his expertise with variations and precise lengths to derail Rajasthan’s chase. For his outstanding bowling, Hazlewood was rightfully named 'Player of the Match.' Reflecting on his performance, Hazlewood said, "First of all, it was about sticking to your strengths. I knew the hard length was tough to hit on this wicket, mixing it up with the odd yorker, the slower balls, and the order in which to bowl them was the way to go."
The Australian pacer also praised RCB’s bowling unit for its versatility and balance. "I love our bowling attack. I feel we have covered every base. Everyone has their days, and we are doing well," he said. Hazlewood further commented on the Bengaluru pitch conditions, noting the steep bounce as a consistent factor throughout the tournament. “The bounce is quite steep here throughout the whole tournament. Getting that score was phenomenal. I feel that was well above par and the guys did a really great job," he added.
Despite RR’s strong start and promising performances from young players, their inability to close out matches has now become a serious concern. With the IPL 2025 season heating up, Rajasthan Royals will need to regroup quickly and find ways to address their finishing problems if they hope to remain competitive in the race for the playoffs. Meanwhile, RCB’s win strengthens their position in the tournament, boosting their momentum with crucial contributions from their experienced bowlers. As the season progresses, performances like Hazlewood’s could prove decisive for teams aiming for top honors.
