Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals, often referred to as RR, is a Jaipur-based franchise team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) that has impacted the tournament since its inception in 2008. Even though Rajasthan Royals was the cheapest team in the first IPL auction, they surprised everyone by winning the first IPL season under the captaincy of the famous Australian cricketer Shane Warne.
Rajasthan Royals is known for finding and training young, unknown players who later become big cricket stars. The team has faced both good and bad times, including a two-year ban (2016–2017) due to a betting case, but they have always made a strong comeback with good performances.
Rajasthan Royals played in the IPL final in 2022 and reached the playoffs in several seasons, including 2024. With dedicated fans and strong leadership, RR remains a strong team in the IPL, striving for another championship victory.
Rajasthan Royals History:
Rajasthan Royals (RR) is one of the most dynamic and unpredictable teams in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Renowned for its ability to nurture young talent and implement innovative strategies, RR has carved a unique identity in the tournament. Since its inception in 2008, the franchise has experienced a thrilling journey filled with historic triumphs, fierce challenges, major controversies, and inspiring comebacks. From winning the first-ever IPL season to facing challenges and rebuilding a strong team, Rajasthan Royals have always been an exciting team that consistently captivates cricket fans worldwide.
2008: Rajasthan Royals’ Dream Victory:
In the first season of the IPL in 2008, Rajasthan Royals (RR), led by the legendary Shane Warne, surprised everyone by winning the championship. They were seen as underdogs because they didn’t have big superstar players. Instead, they built a strong team with young talents like Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shane Watson. RR performed brilliantly in the league stage, winning 11 out of 14 matches and finishing at the top of the points table.
In the final match, RR played against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Chasing the target, the match went down to the last ball, and Sohail Tanvir scored the winning run. This victory proved that a team could win the IPL without spending huge money on famous players.
2009-2010: Tough Times for Rajasthan Royals:
After winning the IPL in 2008, Rajasthan Royals (RR) struggled in the next two seasons. In 2009, the tournament was held in South Africa, but RR couldn’t perform like before. They won only 6 out of 14 matches and finished in 6th place. One of their worst moments was against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where they got all out for just 58 runs—the lowest score of the season.
The 2010 season was also difficult. Even though they had a strong team, RR couldn’t make it to the playoffs again and finished in 7th place. Injuries to key players and inconsistent performances made things worse for them.
2011-2015: Ups and Downs, Controversies, and a Big Suspension
Between 2011 and 2015, Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced many challenges both on and off the field. In 2011, they struggled again and finished in 6th place. However, they discovered a talented player, Ajinkya Rahane, who later became an important part of the team.
The 2013 season was one of their best since winning the title in 2008. Under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, RR played exciting cricket and finished third in the league stage, making it to the playoffs. But in Qualifier 2, they lost to Mumbai Indians, disappointingly ending their campaign.
Sadly, the 2013 season was also filled with controversy. Three RR players—S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan—were involved in a spot-fixing scandal. This was a shocking moment in cricket history and had serious consequences for the team.
In 2015, another big controversy hit RR. The team’s co-owner, Raj Kundra, was accused of being involved in betting and corruption. Because of this, the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee suspended Rajasthan Royals from the IPL for two years (2016-2017). This was a major blow to the team, as they had to stay out of the IPL for two full seasons.
2018-2021: Rajasthan Royals’ Comeback & Struggles
After being banned for two years, Rajasthan Royals (RR) finally returned to the IPL in 2018. The team invested heavily in players like Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Jaydev Unadkat, but they failed to make a significant impact. Under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, RR reached the playoffs but lost in the Eliminator match.
The following seasons saw inconsistent performances from RR. They finished seventh in 2019, despite some brilliant performances from Steve Smith and Jos Buttler. The 2020 season, played in the UAE due to COVID-19, was particularly disappointing as RR finished at the bottom of the points table.
In 2021, Sanju Samson became the new captain, but the team continued to struggle with injuries and inconsistent performances, once again ending the season in 7th place.
2022: A Strong Comeback – Finishing as Runners-Up
The 2022 IPL season was a big comeback for Rajasthan Royals (RR). With a well-balanced team, including Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Trent Boult, RR played brilliantly and finished second in the league stage.
Jos Buttler had a dream season, winning the Orange Cap with 863 runs, including four centuries. Chahal emerged as the leading wicket-taker, winning the Purple Cap. RR reached the IPL final for the first time since 2008 but lost to Gujarat Titans. Despite the loss, this season proved that RR was once again a strong team in the IPL.
2023-2024: Ups and Downs for Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals had an up-and-down journey in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons. In 2023, they started well but lost momentum later and finished 5th, missing the playoffs. Yashasvi Jaiswal was their star performer, scoring 625 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal led with 21 wickets.
2024, they had a brilliant start, winning 8 of their first 9 matches. They even chased 224 runs against KKR, one of the highest in IPL history. But they struggled towards the end, losing 4 of their last 5 games. Still, they qualified for the playoffs, beating RCB in the Eliminator but lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2. Riyan Parag was their top run-scorer (573 runs), and Avesh Khan took the most wickets.
Wicket Keepers
Sanju Samson
( Wicket Keeper )
Dhruv Jurel
( Wicket Keeper )
Kunal Singh Rathore
( Wicket Keeper )
Batters
Nitish Rana
( Batsman )
Riyan Parag
( Batsman )
Shimron Hetmyer
( Batsman )
Shubham Dubey
( Batsman )
Yashasvi Jaiswal
( Batsman )
Bowlers
Akash Madhwal
( Bowler )
Ashok Sharma
( Bowler )
Fazalhaq Farooqi
( Bowler )
Jofra Archer
( Bowler )
Kumar Kartikeya
( Bowler )
Kwena Maphaka
( Bowler )
Maheesh Theekshana
( Bowler )
Sandeep Sharma
( Bowler )
Tushar Deshpande
( Bowler )
Yudhvir Singh
( Bowler )
All Rounders
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
( All Rounder )
Wanindu Hasaranga
( All Rounder )
Support & Coaching Staff
Kumar Sangakkara
(Director of Cricket)
Rahul Dravid
(Head Coach)
Shane Bond
(Assistant and Fast Bowling Coach)
Vikram Rathour
(Batting Coach)
Dishant Yagnik
(Fielding Coach)
Trevor Penney
(Assistant Coach)
Siddhartha Lahiri
(Support Coach and Head of Coaching (RR Academy))
Michael Italiano
(Head of Athletic Performance)
John Gloster
(Head Physiotherapist)
AT Rajamani
(Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach)
Craig Antony
(Senior Physiotherapist)
Niranjan Pandit
(Assistant Physiotherapist)
Mohammed Moosajee
(Team Doctor)
Nimrod Mon Brokman
(Mental Performance Coach)
Giles Lindsay
(Director of Analytics & Technology)
Sandeep Sharma
(Lead Analyst)
Romi Bhinder
(Team Manager and Head of High-Performance Operations)
Home Ground:
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, located in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is the home ground of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. This iconic stadium, owned by the Government of Rajasthan and operated by the Rajasthan Cricket Association, has a seating capacity of around 30,000 spectators. It has been a fortress for the Royals, especially in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, when they won the title.
The stadium has witnessed many historic cricketing moments, including Rajasthan Royals’ star performances. It was here that Sohail Tanvir set an IPL record by taking six wickets in a match against Chennai Super Kings in 2008. Over the years, the Royals have enjoyed strong support from their passionate home crowd.
Though the Royals have faced challenges in hosting matches here due to administrative issues, the stadium remains an integral part of their identity. With a rich history and electrifying atmosphere, Sawai Mansingh Stadium continues to be a key battleground for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
Rajasthan Royals Achievements & Records:
Rajasthan Royals have built a strong reputation in the IPL with their fearless cricket, impressive performances, and focus on developing young players. They won the first-ever IPL title in 2008 and have set many individual and team records over the years. From powerful batting to outstanding bowling and fielding, RR has consistently delivered match-winning performances in every season.
Individual Batting Achievements:
- Most Runs for RR
- Sanju Samson: 3,596 runs (2013–2024)
- Jos Buttler: 3,015 runs (2018–2024)
- Ajinkya Rahane: 2,810 runs (2011–2019)
- Highest Individual Score
- Jos Buttler: 124 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2021)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 124 vs Mumbai Indians (2023)
- Sanju Samson: 119 vs Punjab Kings (2021)
- Most Centuries for RR
- Jos Buttler holds the record with 7 IPL centuries for RR.
- Most Sixes in IPL for RR
- Sanju Samson: 172 sixes
- Jos Buttler: 134 sixes
- Shane Watson: 109 sixes
- Most Runs in a Season
- Jos Buttler: 863 runs (2022) – Orange Cap winner
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 625 runs (2023)
Individual Bowling Achievements:
- Most Wickets for RR
- Siddharth Trivedi: 65 wickets (2008–2013)
- Yuzvendra Chahal: 61 wickets (2022–2024)
- Shane Watson: 61 wickets (2008–2015)
- Best Bowling Figures in an Innings
- Sohail Tanvir: 6/14 vs Chennai Super Kings (2008)
- James Faulkner: 5/16 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013)
- Sandeep Sharma: 5/18 vs Mumbai Indians (2024)
- Most Wickets in a Season
- James Faulkner: 28 wickets (2013)
- Yuzvendra Chahal: 27 wickets (2022) – Purple Cap winner
- Hat-Tricks for RR
- Ajit Chandila (2012), Pravin Tambe (2014), Shane Watson (2014), Shreyas Gopal (2019), Yuzvendra Chahal (2022)
Rajasthan Royals’ remarkable achievements reflect their consistent performances, ability to nurture young talents, and commitment to playing fearless cricket in the IPL.
Team Records
- Highest Team Total: 226/6 vs Kings XI Punjab (2020)
- Lowest Total Conceded: 70 all out vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2014)
- Highest Successful Run Chase: 224/8 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2024)
Wicket-Keeping & Fielding Records
- Most Dismissals (Wicket-Keeping): Sanju Samson – 74 dismissals (2013–2024)
- Most Catches as a Fielder: Ajinkya Rahane – 40 catches (2011–2019)
- Most Catches in a Season: Riyan Parag – 17 catches (2022)
Partnership Records:
- Highest Opening Partnership: 155 – Jos Buttler & Devdutt Padikkal vs Delhi Capitals (2022)
- Highest 2nd Wicket Partnership: 150 – Sanju Samson & Jos Buttler vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2021)