IPL 2025: Robin Uthappa Critiques Rajasthan Royals’ Bowling Attack After Loss Against KKR

March 27, 2025: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa shared his analysis of Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) performance after they suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Uthappa expressed concern over RR’s bowling attack, which has been heavily reliant on experienced pacers Sandeep Sharma and Jofra Archer.

Uthappa noted that while Sharma has been consistent, Archer’s return to cricket after a lengthy injury layoff has affected his physical and mental state. Archer, who has faced multiple injuries and challenges, has yet to find his best form since his return, which has impacted the Royals’ bowling unit.

“They’ll need to reflect on their auction strategy and analyze what they might have missed. But hindsight is a luxury they don’t have right now. Their bowling attack seems a bit thin, relying heavily on Sandeep Sharma and Jofra Archer. However, it’s important to consider that Jofra Archer is returning to regular cricket after a hiatus of over two and a half years. He has endured multiple injuries and other challenges that have taken a toll on his body. That inevitably affects a player’s mental makeup and self-confidence. There’s a lot to unpack here,” Uthappa said on Jio Hotstar.

The Royals, who are now bottom of the IPL 2025 points table after back-to-back losses—first to Royal Challengers Bangalore and then to KKR—are in a tough spot. Stand-in captain Riyan Parag acknowledged the team’s mistakes after the loss and promised that they would work on correcting them for their upcoming fixture against the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

RR’s next challenge comes on March 30, when they face CSK in Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium. The Royals will be eager to turn their fortunes around and avoid a third straight defeat, with Parag and the team focusing on improving their performance to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Rajasthan Royals Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Nitish Rana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma, Jofra Archer.

Chennai Super Kings Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Andre Siddarth C, Rahul Tripathi, Devon Conway, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, Rachin Ravindra, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Curran, Matheesha Pathirana, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Nagarkoti, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed.