“The Rajasthan Royals, one of the most exciting teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have been captivating cricket fans with their dynamic gameplay and impressive roster. Known for their innovative strategies and remarkable talent, the Rajasthan Royals strive to leave a significant mark in every season of the tournament.”
Captain: Sanju Samson
Coach: Rahul Dravid
Home ground: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
IPL titles: 1 (2008)
Owners: The Royals Sports Group
Coach: Rahul Dravid
Home ground: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
IPL titles: 1 (2008)
Owners: The Royals Sports Group
The team that attracted the smallest bid when the IPL franchises were first sold, Rajasthan Royals emerged unlikely champions in the first season. Since then they have blown hot and cold, reaching the playoffs four times and finishing sixth or below seven times. They have also been hit by controversy off the field. In 2010 there was a court battle over ownership. In 2013, three of their players were arrested on charges of spot-fixing, and following an investigation, the franchise was suspended for two years for its involvement in illegal betting and match-fixing.
Rajasthan Royals history
Royals had a reputation for their “Moneyball” strategy of budget-conscious buying, and for picking largely unknown talents and backing them. Over the years they unearthed such names as Ravindra Jadeja, Sanju Samson and Yusuf Pathan. However, they also made some of the biggest purchases of them all. They bought England allrounder Ben Stokes for Rs 12.5 crores (about US$1.7 million) and India left-arm fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat for Rs 11.5 crore ($1.6m), both in 2018; in 2021 they bought South Africa allrounder Chris Morris for Rs 16.25 crore ($2.2m) but they released him ahead of the 2022 auction.
Shane Warne led in Royals’ victorious first season, and up until 2011, following which Rahul Dravid took over for two years. Shane Watson then captained briefly before handing over to Steven Smith in 2014. When Smith was banned for ball-tampering in 2018, Ajinkya Rahane replaced him as captain. Smith returned to lead in 2019, but after two poor seasons, Royals released him and named Sanju Samson the captain ahead of the 2021 season. They also appointed former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara as director of cricket around then.
Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, RR retained Samson for Rs 14 crore ($1.8m), Jos Buttler for Rs 10 crore ($1.3m), and young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for Rs 4 crore ($500,000). They released Stokes and Jofra Archer, two of their biggest names in the previous seasons.
Rajasthan Royals highs
The fairy-tale win in 2008 is what the franchise is best remembered for. That and for largely staying true to their vision of promoting and giving opportunities to a number of young, unknown talents over the years.
Rajasthan Royals lows
Royals have not been short on controversy over the years – the most serious of which was in the wake of three players, Sreesanth, Ajay Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, being arrested for spot-fixing. The BCCI banned the franchise for two years, and one of its owners, Raj Kundra, for life. When RR finished second-last on the table in 2021, it was the third year in a row they failed to make the playoffs.
Rajasthan Royals season by season
2024 – 3rd Place
- Matches: 16
- Wins: 9
- Win Percentage: 56.2%
- Summary: The Royals shadowed SRH and KKR for most of the season. They had a hot streak of four consecutive wins but followed it with four losses. Key players like Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal faced challenges towards the end of the season.
2023 – 5th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: After a strong start, winning four out of five games, RR struggled, winning only one of the next five. Yashasvi Jaiswal shone with record performances, while Jos Buttler faced a dip in form.
2022 – Runners-Up
- Matches: 17
- Wins: 10
- Win Percentage: 58.8%Rajasthan Royals best performance since 2008. Jos Buttler was the top run-scorer, and a strong bowling attack led them to the final, where they lost to Gujarat Titans.
2021 – 7th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 5
- Win Percentage: 35.7%
- Summary: A disappointing season with injuries to key players like Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. Captain Sanju Samson struggled to find consistent support from the batting lineup.
2020 – 8th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 6
- Win Percentage: 42.8%
- Summary: After a promising start with two wins, the team faltered, finishing last. Only Jofra Archer’s performances stood out in an otherwise challenging season.
2019 – 7th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 5
- Win Percentage: 35.7%
- Summary: Questions loomed over captain Ajinkya Rahane’s position, resulting in a mid-tournament leadership change to Steve Smith. Despite individual performances, consistency was lacking.
2018 – 4th Place
- Matches: 15
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 46.6%
- Summary: Following their suspension, Rajasthan Royals experienced a topsy-turvy season. Individual brilliance was overshadowed by underwhelming performances from high-profile signings like Stokes.
2017 & 2016 – Suspended
- Notes: The team was suspended from participating in these seasons.
2015 – 4th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: A strong start with five straight wins was interrupted by setbacks. They still finished in the top four but lost in the eliminator.
2014 – 5th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: Despite retaining key players and adding new talent, Rajasthan Royals missed the playoffs due to a narrow net run rate difference.
2013 – 3rd Place
- Matches: 18
- Wins: 11
- Win Percentage: 61.1%
- Summary: Rajasthan Royals made the playoffs for the first time since 2008, with Watson’s standout performance as Player of the Tournament aiding their journey to the playoffs.
2012 – 7th Place
- Matches: 16
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 43.7%
- Summary: A disappointing season, with Rahane’s standout performances offering little respite to the overall team struggles.
2011 – 6th Place
- Matches: 13
- Wins: 6
- Win Percentage: 46.1%
- Summary: The season marked the end of an era, with heavy losses overshadowing early wins.
2010 – 7th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 6
- Win Percentage: 42.8%
- Summary: The team had a promising start but slumped mid-season, leading to a low final standing.
2009 – 6th Place
- Matches: 13
- Wins: 6
- Win Percentage: 46.1%
- Summary: This season was marred by absences; Sohail Tanvir was banned from participation, and Shane Watson missed the tournament due to international commitments. Mid-season changes included dropping seven players, resulting in a total of seven losses and a sixth-place finish.
2008 – Champions
- Matches: 16
- Wins: 13
- Win Percentage: 81.2%
- Summary: The Rajasthan Royals entered the tournament as underdogs and delivered an impressive performance, winning 11 of 14 group stage matches. Key contributions came from players like Shane Watson, Sohail Tanvir, Yusuf Pathan, and captain Shane Warne, leading the team to lift the trophy after defeating MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the final.
RR key players
Sanju Samson
- Role: Wicketkeeper-Batsman
- Tenure: Joined in 2013
- Highlights: Samson has been a crucial part of Rajasthan Royals batting lineup since his debut. By 2024, he became the all-time leading run-scorer for the franchise, exceeding 4000 runs and breaching the 500-run mark in a single season.
Shane Watson
- Role: All-rounder
- Tenure: Played from 2008 to 2015
- Highlights: As the Player of the Tournament in Rajasthan Royals inaugural season, Watson scored 2372 runs and took 61 wickets during his tenure. He remains one of the franchise’s most valuable players.
Yuzvendra Chahal
- Role: Bowler (Leg Spin)
- Tenure: Joined in 2022
- Highlights: Chahal quickly made an impact by claiming the Purple Cap with 27 wickets in his first season. By 2024, he broke the record for most wickets in IPL history, solidifying his reputation as a top spinner.
Ajinkya Rahane
- Role: Batsman
- Tenure: Joined in 2011, returned in 2018
- Highlights: After being picked as an uncapped player, Rahane became Rajasthan Royals top run-scorer with 2810 runs. However, after returning from a couple of seasons with Rising Pune Supergiant, he struggled with form and was released before the 2020 auction.
Jos Buttler
- Role: Wicketkeeper-Batsman
- Tenure: Joined in 2018
- Highlights: Buttler made a spectacular entrance with 548 runs in his first season and was retained ahead of the 2022 auction. He finished that season as the leading run-scorer with 863 runs, including four centuries, marking him as one of the league’s best batsmen.
Rajasthan Royals 2025 IPL Squad
- Sanju Samson
- Jofra Archer
- Ashok Sharma
- Tushar Deshpande
- Shubham Dubey
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Dhruv Jurel
- Kumar Kartikeya
- Akash Madhwal
- Kwena Maphaka
- Riyan Parag
- Nitish Rana
- Kunal Singh Rathore
- Sandeep Sharma
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Yudhvir Singh
RR Fan Culture and Community Support.
Rajasthan Royals (RR), one of the franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has cultivated a unique fan culture and community support that distinguishes it from other teams. Here’s an overview of the key aspects of RR’s fan culture and community engagement:
Fan Culture
- Loyal and Diverse Fanbase: The Rajasthan Royals boast a diverse group of fans who come from various backgrounds. Their loyalty is evident in the colorful displays of support during matches, whether at the stadium or in viewing parties.
- Royal Colors: The team’s colors, pink and blue, are proudly worn by fans, symbolizing their allegiance. Merchandise, including jerseys, caps, and other memorabilia, is popular among supporters.
- Social Media Engagement: RR’s presence on social media platforms is strong, with fans engaging through hashtags, memes, and online discussions. The team actively interacts with fans through contests and posts, which helps nurture a sense of community.
- Fan Clubs: There are numerous official and unofficial fan clubs dedicated to the Rajasthan Royals. These clubs organize watch parties, events, and community gatherings, fostering camaraderie among supporters.
- Cheerleaders and Entertainment: The presence of cheerleaders and entertainment acts during matches enhances the fan experience, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere.
Community Support
- Social Initiatives: Rajasthan Royals are committed to various social causes. The team engages in community service and initiatives that focus on education, health, and welfare. This commitment to social responsibility resonates with fans and strengthens community ties.
- Grassroots Cricket Development: RR emphasizes nurturing young talent through cricket academies and grassroots programs. They often conduct coaching camps and workshops, ensuring that aspiring cricketers have access to training and facilities.
- Engagement with Local Communities: The franchise actively connects with local communities through outreach programs. Players and management often participate in events that promote cricket and support local causes, fostering goodwill.
- Inclusivity: RR aims to create an inclusive environment where cricket is accessible to everyone. They encourage participation from fans of all ages and backgrounds, promoting the sport and its values.
- Player Interaction: Rajasthan Royals facilitates opportunities for fans to interact with players through meet-and-greet events, Q&A sessions, and fan contests. This direct engagement helps deepen the connection between players and supporters.
Highest totals For Indian Premier League – Rajasthan Royals