Cricket

Rahul Dravid, the former Indian cricket team coach, has taken on a new role as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of the upcoming IPL auction, Dravid participated in the Girls Cup organized by the franchise, showcasing his batting skills and inspiring young players.Dravid's involvement in the Girls Cup was a testament to his commitment to fostering cricket at all levels. He spent considerable time at the crease, facing deliveries from young girls and even applauding their efforts. A video of Dravid's gesture was widely shared on social media, highlighting his humility and support for aspiring cricketers.In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Dravid has been actively involved in the Rajasthan Royals' retention strategy for the IPL 2025 season. He revealed that captain Sanju Samson played a key role in the decision-making process."We have decided to do six out of six retentions. We will retain Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma," Dravid said. "We came to this decision because we trust our talent. We also trust that we want to maintain and build with that core."Dravid emphasized Samson's importance to the team, stating that he was an automatic choice for retention as captain and wicketkeeper-batter. "Sanju Samson is our batsman, wicketkeeper, and captain. He has been the captain of this team for many years. So, it was a no-brainer for us to retain him as he will be our captain in the future too," Dravid explained.With Dravid's guidance and Samson's leadership, the Rajasthan Royals aim to build a strong team for the upcoming IPL season. Their focus on retaining core players and fostering young talent bodes well for their future success.

Amidst India's batting struggles, two wicketkeeper-batsmen, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel, have emerged as beacons of hope. Samson's blistering 107 in the T20I opener against South Africa and Jurel's twin half-centuries in the India A match against Australia A have showcased their exceptional talent.Both players share a common bond with Rajasthan Royals, where Samson serves as captain and Jurel was retained for a hefty sum. Their success can be attributed to the extensive training they receive at the Royals' training center in Talegaon under the guidance of high-performance director Zubin Bharucha.Bharucha emphasizes the importance of high variability in their training regimen. "We try to cover high variability in our preparation," he says. This approach has prepared Jurel for the challenging conditions at the MCG, where he thrived despite the thick grass cover.The Royals also played a crucial role in preparing Samson for the bouncy pitches in South Africa. Bharucha reveals that they had a two-day session with Samson in Dubai, where the pitches are more similar to those in South Africa.Bharucha praises the Royals' commitment to player development, highlighting their investment in Samson's preparation for the South Africa tour. "They flew the bowlers and me from India to Dubai for Samson's practice sessions," he says.The Royals' philosophy is to transform the space between success and failure into a freedom of opportunity for their players. By providing an environment based on high variability and meticulous preparation, they aim to empower their players to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Sanju Samson's recent resurgence in international cricket has been attributed to increased clarity from team management and a newfound calmness in his approach. After two consecutive centuries in T20Is, Samson is finally on the cusp of fulfilling his potential.Samson's struggles in the past have been linked to a lack of consistent opportunities with the Indian team. However, with the emergence of a new T20 setup under head coach Gautam Gambhir, Samson has been given the confidence and clarity he needs to succeed."For the first time in my career, I received such clarity, and that gave me confidence," Samson said.Samson's improved form has also been attributed to his experience as captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. This role has helped him understand the needs of a team and how to make an impact on a game.Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour believes Samson has become calmer in the last year and has realized he doesn't need to rely on fancy shots to be successful."He has the power to hit big down the ground. He plays fast bowling well and can take them down in front of the wicket," Rathour said.With the next T20 World Cup in 2026 in mind, the selectors and Gambhir are grooming T20 specialists. Samson's recent performances have put him in contention for a permanent spot in the team, even when the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashashvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant return from Test assignments.

Star Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has lauded his elder brother Tejasvi Jaiswal for his maiden First-Class half-century in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Tejasvi, a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium pacer, scored 82 runs in his only innings and claimed a wicket for Tripura against Baroda at Agartala.Tejasvi's knock helped Tripura establish a substantial lead of 252 runs in the first innings, although the match ultimately ended in a draw. Baroda posted 235 before Tripura declared at 482/7. Baroda resumed their innings and were 241/4 when the match concluded.Yashasvi took to Instagram to express his pride in his brother's achievement.Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has received a significant salary increase with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been retained for a whopping Rs 18 crore, a substantial jump from his previous salary of Rs 4 crore.Rajasthan Royals' head coach Rahul Dravid attributed the decision to retain six players to the team's belief in their talent and desire for continuity and stability. Skipper Sanju Samson's guidance also played a role."We have decided that we will do six out of six retentions. We will retain Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma. We came to this decision because we trust our talent. We also trust that we want to maintain and build with that core," Dravid stated.Sandeep Sharma was retained under the revived 'uncapped' player rule. Teams are permitted to retain a maximum of six players with an overall budget of Rs 120 crore for retention and the mega auction.

Rajasthan Royals' (RR) decision to release star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The duo played a pivotal role in RR's recent success, reaching the playoffs twice in three years, including the final in 2022.Buttler, the 'Most Valuable Player' of the 2022 season, amassed 863 runs with four centuries. Despite a less consistent 2024, he still managed to score two more hundreds. Chahal, on the other hand, is not only RR's highest wicket-taker in the past three seasons but also the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He has scalped 27 wickets in 2022 and has picked up 18 or more wickets in every season since 2019.Chahal took to social media to express his gratitude towards Buttler, calling him "Jos bhai" and sharing a video of their shared moments. "In 2022, I knew him as Jos Buttler. In 2024, he's my Jos bhai," wrote Chahal. "Loved every day being around you and only a few people know what you've done for me. Thank you for always standing by me."RR's decision to release Buttler and Chahal has raised questions about their strategy for the upcoming auction. With a budget of just Rs 41 crore, the lowest among all teams, RR will have to make some shrewd decisions to fill the void left by these two stars.The Royals have appointed Rahul Dravid as their new head coach, who recently led India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid's experience and tactical acumen will be crucial as RR looks to rebuild their squad and challenge for the IPL title once again.

Rajasthan Royals' head coach Rahul Dravid has revealed that captain Sanju Samson played a pivotal role in the franchise's retention strategy for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Samson, who is the team's captain and wicketkeeper-batter, was the first pick of the franchise in the retentions, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma.Dravid explained the rationale behind retaining Samson as the No. 1 pick: "Sanju Samson is our batsman, wicketkeeper, and captain. He has been the captain of this team for many years. So, it was a no-brainer for us to retain him as he will be our captain in the future too. He was a top retainer pick for us and he was very involved in our decision process as well."The former Indian batter emphasized the importance of retaining core players for stability: "There is definitely a stability when you retain six players. We could only retain six players, but if we could have done more, we would have retained more for sure. We believe that the players we have retained are deserving. Of course, you have less money when you go to the auction, but there is a certain stability that you have blocked in some areas and then you can see how you have to make the whole team."Dravid praised Samson's role in the retention decisions: "Sanju Samson played a big role in the retention, and it was difficult for him as well. As a captain, he has built a lot of relationships with the players. He has had a lot of balanced views about this. He has taken the trouble to understand the dynamics of it, the pros and cons of this. So, I would like to praise him for discussing this with us. It was not an easy decision for us either."Regarding expectations for the upcoming season and the auction table, Dravid stated: "For the next season, the expectation will be that we qualify and win. It's been many years since Rajasthan has won a title. So, our effort will be to win, but we also understand that there are very good teams in IPL. The rules of the RTM have also changed a bit, so we will definitely get to see something different in this auction. In the auction, you have to do some preparation and planning, but there you have to show some flexibility. We have built a foundation for us, we have created a base, we have retained a core, we will take this forward and fill it and make a good squad."

Jos Buttler Bids Farewell to Rajasthan Royals After Seven Memorable SeasonsEnglish cricketer Jos Buttler has expressed his gratitude to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) after not being retained ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. Buttler, who played for the franchise for seven seasons, shared his reflections on social media."If it turns out that this is the end, thank you @rajasthanroyals and everyone involved with the franchise for 7 incredible seasons together. 2018 kickstarted the best years of my cricketing career, and many of my most cherished memories have come in a Pink shirt over the last 6 years," Buttler wrote on Instagram."Thank you for welcoming me and my family with open arms. Could write so much more, but let's leave it there."The Rajasthan Royals responded with a tribute, saying, "You will be one of the greatest ever to wear Pink. Forever a part of the Royals Family."Buttler's journey with the Royals began in 2018. He quickly became one of the team's most recognizable players, making significant contributions. In the 2024 season, he scored 359 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 140.78, including two centuries.Recently, Rajasthan Royals revealed their retained players for the IPL 2025 auction. The team retained key players like captain Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shimron Hetmyer. They have a limited purse of INR 41 crore for the auction and aim to make strategic signings.Buttler's exit leaves a gap in both leadership and performance for the Royals. His contributions have been notable and will be remembered by the franchise and fans.

Rajasthan Royals have finalized their retention list ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Sandeep Sharma set to remain with the franchise.Samson, the team's captain, has been a consistent performer for the Royals, leading them to the playoffs in IPL 2024. He scored 531 runs in the season, his highest tally in the IPL. Jaiswal, the young opener, has also been impressive, scoring 435 runs in IPL 2024. Parag, a versatile all-rounder, had a breakout season in 2024, scoring 573 runs and making his T20I debut for India.Sandeep Sharma, the experienced pacer, has been a key part of the Royals' bowling attack, taking 13 wickets in IPL 2024. He qualifies as an uncapped player due to not playing international cricket for five years.However, England's Jos Buttler and India's Yuzvendra Chahal, who were key players in the Royals' run to the finals in IPL 2022, are not part of the retention list. The Royals can still use their two right-to-match options to buy them back at the auction.The Royals are also considering retaining wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who has impressed with his cameos in the lower order. If Jurel is retained, the Royals will lose at least INR 65 crore from their overall purse, leaving them INR 55 crore at the auction.The IPL has set minimum deductions from the auction purse for each player retained, but the franchises are free to pay more or less than those amounts. The Royals will lose at least INR 47 crore from their purse for retaining four players.The deadline for franchises to submit their list of retained players is October 31. The teams can retain up to six players each, with a maximum of five capped internationals and two uncapped players.

Trevor Penney, the former head coach of the Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), has been appointed as the new head coach of the Paarl Royals for the 2025 season of the South Africa T20 League (SA20). Penney replaces Shane Bond, who will now focus solely on his role as bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Penney has been a key figure in the Royals franchise since 2021, when the Royals Sports Group took over the Barbados team. Under his guidance, the Barbados Royals have emerged as a consistent contender in the CPL, reaching the final in 2022."I'm honored to take on the head coach role at Paarl Royals," said Penney. "The SA20 has become a major tournament on the global cricket calendar, and I'm excited to work with such a talented squad. Being part of the Royals family with Rajasthan Royals and Barbados Royals has been a wonderful journey, and I'm looking forward to continuing that experience in Paarl."Penney will work alongside David Miller, who has captained the Paarl Royals in both seasons of the SA20 so far. The Royals reached the semi-finals in the inaugural season but were eliminated in the Eliminator in the second season."We're delighted to have Trevor join as head coach of Paarl Royals," said Royals' director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara. "His track record with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and with the Barbados Royals in the CPL, where he's helped in transforming the team into consistent contenders, shows the quality of coach he is."Meanwhile, Bond will focus on his role with the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the upcoming IPL auction. He will work closely with new head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour to finalize the team's plans."Shane Bond, who has been fantastic with us in both the IPL and the SA20, will focus extensively on his continued role with the Rajasthan Royals and spend more time in India, overseeing the scouting and trial processes along with Rahul and Vikram," added Sangakkara.