April 10, 2025: Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has criticized Rajasthan Royals (RR) for their decision to release several star players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. RR, led by Sanju Samson, has struggled in the ongoing season, suffering their third consecutive defeat after a heavy 58-run loss to Gujarat Titans. Uthappa, who was part of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) winning squad, questioned RR’s auction strategy and raised concerns about their lack of depth in the squad.
In a conversation on Star Sports, Uthappa pointed out that RR’s decision to release players like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravichandran Ashwin was a mistake, particularly as it left the team with a squad lacking strong replacements for key positions. “I think that’s where RR got it wrong in the auctions. They let the likes of Jos Buttler, Ashwin, Yuzi Chahal go, and they just left too many holes,” Uthappa said. He further added, “Like today, if Shimron Hetmyer gets injured, they don’t have a replacement for him. How does that actually work for them?”
Uthappa’s remarks echo the concerns surrounding RR’s squad depth, especially after their recent defeats. The franchise retained six players before the mega-auction, including Sanju Samson (18 crore), Yashasvi Jaiswal (18 crore), Riyan Parag (14 crore), Dhruv Jurel (14 crore), Shimron Hetmyer (11 crore), and Sandeep Sharma (4 crore). However, key players like Buttler and Chahal, who had contributed significantly in previous seasons, were released, leaving the team with gaps in crucial areas.
Shane Watson, another former cricketer and expert, also expressed his surprise at the decision to release Buttler, particularly due to the strong bond between Buttler and Samson. Watson highlighted that the camaraderie between the two players was not just important for on-field performances but also played a crucial role in maintaining the team’s morale. “The connection that Sanju has as a leader with Jos Buttler really does have a huge influence in and around the group as well,” Watson remarked. “It’s not just the cricket performances, but there are other factors around that add value.”
Buttler, who joined RR in 2018, played a key role in the team’s journey to the final in 2022 and scored an impressive 863 runs from 17 innings that season. Despite his contributions, RR surprisingly chose not to retain him ahead of the auction, where he was picked up by Gujarat Titans for a hefty Rs 15.75 crore.
So far in IPL 2025, RR has played five matches, with Riyan Parag captaining the side in the first three due to Samson’s injury. The team has won just two matches, leaving them seventh in the points table.
RR’s decision to release star players like Buttler and Chahal is becoming a topic of debate as their IPL 2025 campaign continues to falter. With questions being raised about their auction strategy and squad depth, the franchise will need to find solutions quickly to turn around their season.