IPL 2025 Mega Auction: 3 Star Players Rajasthan Royals Will Target On Day 2

RR bought five players on Day 1. [Source: @gbb_cricket/X]RR bought five players on Day 1. [Source: @gbb_cricket/X]

One of the two franchises to have exhausted their quota of retaining six players before Indian Premier League 2025 auction, Rajasthan Royals quietly observed proceedings for quite a long before successfully executing five impressive purchases in Jeddah on Sunday. Having entered the Abady Al Johar Arena with a purse of INR 41 crore, lowest among all franchises, RR will start Day 2 with INR 17.35 crore, fifth-highest at the moment.

Rajasthan, who bought England fast bowler Jofra Archer (INR 12.5 crore), Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana (INR 4.4 crore), Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga (INR 5.25 crore), uncapped India pacer Akash Madhwal (INR 1.2 crore) and uncapped India spinner Kumar Kartikeya (INR 30 lakh) yesterday, need to fill a minimum of seven out of the remaining 14 spots.

Royals, who can buy a maximum of four overseas players to complete their IPL 2025 squad today, will be contemplating acquiring names who can bat in the top and middle order and bowl fast. Some of them could be:

Nitish Rana (Base Price – INR 1.5 crore)

Why will RR Target Nitish Rana?

  • With Sanju Samson all but cementing his place as India’s T20I opener, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him open the batting for RR for the first time since IPL 2019.
  • In such a scenario, India batter Nitish Rana seems to be an ideal No. 3 name for the No. 3 spot
  • With the franchise already comprising batting options such as Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Wanindu Hasaranga, they desperately need a reliable No. 3 batter
  • As mentioned here, Rana’s numbers at Royals’ home ground, i.e., Sawai Mansingh Stadium, are quite impressive

Faf du Plessis (Base Price – INR 2 crore)

Why will RR Target Faf du Plessis?

  • Primarily because of his current form (1,502 T20 runs at a strike rate of 155.80 this year)
  • Assuming Samson continues to guard the No. 3 position in the IPL, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis could partner Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order
  • Third-highest run-scorer in the last two years, the right-handed batter has scored 2,876 runs at an average and strike rate of 38.86 and 153.71 respectively including two centuries and 26 half-centuries (highest among all batters)
  • Highest run-scorer (180 runs at a strike rate of 240) in the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10
  • du Plessis, 40, remains one of the fittest contemporary cricketers capable of executing unbelievable catches

Tom Curran (Base Price – INR 2 crore)

Why will RR target Tom Curran?

  • Having played for Rajasthan during IPL 2020, England pacer Tom Curran could make a comeback to the biggest T20 league after four years
  • No longer a first-choice player, Curran could easily fit into Royals’ comparatively low budget
  • Like-for-like replacement for injury-prone Archer
  • Since the start of 2023, Curran has scored 610 runs at a strike rate of 156.01

Rajasthan Royals' Other Probable Targets On Day 2: Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Rovman Powell, Marco Jansen, Sanvir Singh, Manish Pandey, Mustafizur Rahman, Gurjapneet Singh