As the IPL enters its business end, two former champions — Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals — have already been eliminated from the playoff race. While the Royals’ early exit may seem disappointing, a deeper look reveals a season of narrow margins and missed opportunities, largely stemming from an inexperienced batting lineup that buckled under pressure.
Despite what the points table suggests, IPL 2008 champions weren’t entirely outclassed. They were heartbreakingly close to sealing several matches. They lost a Super Over thriller against Delhi Capitals, fell short by just 2 runs against Lucknow Super Giants, and stumbled against Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite needing only 18 runs off the final two overs.
In their most recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders, RR clawed their way back from 72/5, courtesy of a heroic 92-run stand between Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer. Parag reignited hopes by smashing five consecutive sixes off Moeen Ali and a sixth off Varun Chakravarthy, almost pulling off a miracle — but they still fell agonisingly short by just 1-run.
After the loss to KKR, stand-in captain Riyan Parag admitted to tactical errors:
> “I was planning to stay till the last two overs, but unfortunately got out in the 18th. It was a miscalculation on my part. We could’ve managed the last six overs better. It feels terrible to give this interview as the losing captain.”
These repeated failures to close out winnable games paint a clear picture: Rajasthan Royals struggled with composure and maturity during crunch moments. A key blow was the loss of skipper Sanju Samson to a side strain after the game against Delhi Capitals — his experience was sorely missed in high-pressure chases.
The Royals’ controversial decision to release Jos Buttler ahead of the auction also came under the scanner. Letting go of one of their most reliable match-winners raised many eyebrows. Instead, they opted to back a young Indian core: Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. While these players showed promise, the lack of experience proved costly when it mattered most.
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Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer, in particular, failed to finish three matches that were well within reach — including two where just nine runs were needed off the final over. Against RCB, Jurel once again departed at a critical moment. These were golden chances squandered due to lapses in temperament and execution.
Rajasthan remains the only team in the tournament to rely on a single overseas batter in their top seven — a high-risk strategy that didn’t pay off. Though the Indian youngsters are talented, they still need time to evolve into consistent match-winners. This season has exposed the limits of backing potential over proven firepower.
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Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour echoed the frustration, pointing out the recurring theme of narrow losses:
> “This is the fourth game we should’ve won but didn’t. Riyan, Dhruv, Nitish, Sanju, Yashasvi, and Hetmyer have played enough cricket to know how to handle these moments. Riyan got us into a winning position again. We just gave away 15–20 runs too many.”
Rathour also addressed Hetmyer’s underwhelming season — 216 runs in 11 innings at an average of 21.60 and a strike rate of 147, with only one fifty — noting that he has struggled in a role where he previously thrived:
> “Hetmyer is our designated finisher, but this hasn’t been his season. Everyone has off-years. We’ve tried to manage his entry point better, but sometimes you take tactical calls like sending Hasaranga earlier against spin.”
As the Royals exit another campaign empty-handed, one thing is clear: talent alone doesn’t win championships — temperament and experience do. Whether the Royals will stick to their youth-first strategy or make tactical adjustments in the next auction remains to be seen, but their gamble this season has clearly backfired.
