IPL 2025: 5 Players RR Will Retain Ahead Of Mega Auction

Sanju Samson led RR to IPL final in the 2022 season (Source: @samson_zype/X.com)Sanju Samson led RR to IPL final in the 2022 season (Source: @samson_zype/X.com)

The mega auction of IPL 2025 is set to take place at the end of 2024, and there are reports that BCCI will allow five retentions per franchise ahead of the auction. Since then, there have been plenty of debates and rumours going around Indian cricketing circles regarding the choices franchises will make, and the job is expected to be tougher for the franchises that have done well in the last few years.

One of those franchises is Rajasthan Royals, the champions of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. They have roped in Rahul Dravid as a new head coach and with a settled core and plenty of superstars at their disposal, RR would have to make a tough call to leave some quality players. The Sanju Samson-led franchise managed to reach Qualifier 2 in the 2024 playoffs and they were also the finalist in the 2022 edition.

So, ahead of the mega auction, let's see who would be the five players that Rajasthan Royals will retain for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

Riyan Parag

The young Indian cricketer was the leading run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals in the last season and scored 583 runs in 14 innings. His strike-rate was also quite good, around 150, and was a breakthrough season for the Assam-lad which eventually led to his selection in the Indian team as well. 

Also, he is one player who has been backed by RR over the years despite below-average returns till the 2023 season. So, with the batter now gaining international experience and finally showing signs of maturity and fulfilling his promise, we can expect Royals to retain ahead of the mega auction. Along with his batting, Riyan Parag can chip in as a bowler, too, so he can provide flexibility to the management, which strengthens his case of getting retained, too.

Yuzvendra Chahal

The leggie has been a genuine match-winner throughout his career, and since joining RR in the 2022 season, he has been their most successful bowler. In his very first season for the franchise, Chahal picked 27 wickets in 17 matches and played a big role in taking RR to the final of the competition. In the 2023 season, he bagged 21 wickets, and he was impressive again in the last season with 18 wickets. 

Also, Chahal's ability to bowl in different phases of the game and in varied conditions made him one of the go-to bowlers for captain Sanju Samson. So, he is most likely to be RR's fourth retention choice ahead of the mega auction despite the options of other quality bowlers like Ashwin and Trent Boult.

Yashasvi Jaiswal

The left-handed opening batter is an international superstar now. He has scored runs for India in both T20Is and Test cricket, and for RR, too, he has been brilliant with his strokeplay at the top of the order. Yashasvi Jaiswal has an IPL career average of over 30 and a strike rate of 150.61, and with him being Indian and a young cricketer, RR just cannot afford to let go of a star like him.

Rajasthan Royals first bought the youngster in the 2020 season and have played a big role in grooming the youngster over the years. He is also touted as the next leader of the franchise, and so Yashasvi Jaiswal is certain to be retained by Rajasthan Royals.

Jos Buttler

The number two retention for Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2025 is likely to be Jos Buttler. The current English white-ball skipper is an integral part of RR and has been their most consistent batter for the last few years. In the 2022 season, Buttler smashed four centuries and scored 863 runs and was largely credited for RR's run to the final that edition. 

In the 2024 season, too, Buttler hit two centuries, and given his ability to win matches single-handedly, the franchise is sure to retain him. Buttler has also been one of the key figures in RR's leadership group over the years, and his experience would be crucial for the franchise in the upcoming edition as well.

Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has been leading Rajasthan Royals since the 2021 edition, and the franchise has done quite well under his captaincy. He is also their key batter and was the fifth-highest run-scorer of the 2024 season with 531 runs at a stunning average of 48.27.  His stocks as a batter have also increased in the last couple of years with good performances in the international arena, and RR management is expected to back Sanju Samson to lead them in the next cycle.

The Kerala wicketkeeper batter has also been the face of the franchise for quite a few years and is the number one crowd puller for RR. His association with the franchise goes back to his teenage days, so we can expect RR to consider the loyalty factor as well and name him the first retention ahead of the mega auction.