It’s not often that a team that won seven out of its first eight games faces off against a team that secured just one victory out of eight in the eliminator of the IPL. The 2024 edition has delivered one such bizarre twist of fate, bringing to light the contrasting fortunes of two teams named Royals. Who would have thought that the Rajasthan Royals, who started the season steamrolling every opponent in their path, would find themselves desperate to play in the rain just to inch their way into the second place after suffering four consecutive losses?
Rajasthan Royals have not managed to secure a victory throughout May. With the absence of Jos Buttler and significant questions surrounding Shimron Hetmyer’s form, their chances grew increasingly dismal as they finished outside the top two, eliminating their opportunity for a second chance. This unexpected decline begs the question: What went wrong? Let’s dissect the reasons behind their downward spiral.
**1. Desperation to Optimize the Impact Player Rule**
At the beginning of IPL 2024, Rajasthan Royals were the team that arguably utilized the new impact player rule to their greatest advantage. When they batted first, they strategically opted for only three overseas players, leaving room for either an extra batter like Rovman Powell or an extra bowler like Nandra Burger, depending on the situation. During their winning streak, this strategy seemed ideal. However, their fixation on maximizing this tactic soon exposed significant vulnerabilities when they bowled first.
When RR opted to bowl first, they fielded just five bowlers, keeping an extra batter for the second innings. This created a paradoxical challenge: while their bowlers were undeniably skilled, they lacked the cushion of an additional bowler. This imbalance forced their batters to adopt a conservative approach to avoid the need for the extra batter in the first innings. On days when the bowlers faltered, the luxury of an additional batter in the second innings was negated by the need to chase in excess of 200 runs—a daunting task even on the best of days.
**2. Injuries and Departures**
Injuries plagued multiple teams throughout the IPL season, but Rajasthan Royals were hit particularly hard by the late withdrawals of their English contingent who left to prepare for the Pakistan T20 series. Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royals, who dominated the season for the most part, felt this impact keenly. With their key enforcer at the top gone, the Royals faced greater adversity.
. Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite flashes of brilliance, struggled with consistency, adding to the void left by Jos Buttler’s absence.
Jos Buttler’s contribution to the team is monumental. Removing a player of his caliber is bound to create significant gaps. Although the team had a ready substitute in Tom Kohler-Cadmore, filling Jos Buttler’s shoes was never going to be easy. Kohler-Cadmore had a shaky start and will need to find his rhythm quickly in the eliminator since there are no second chances. Moreover, Shimron Hetmyer’s untimely injury forced the team to field the untested Donovan Ferreira, which did not yield the desired results.
**3. Middle Order Muddle**
For most of the first nine games, Rajasthan’s batting prowess relied on a “one rescues another” scenario. If Yashasvi Jaiswal faltered, Jos Buttler took charge. If both openers failed, captain Sanju Samson stepped up, and on occasions when all three were dismissed early, Riyan Parag stepped in to salvage the situation. When Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag were dismissed early, Jaiswal’s magnificent hundred pulled the team through. In essence, someone in the top four consistently shouldered the responsibility of scoring big and quick, with minor contributions from the lower order.
However, the middle order crumbled under pressure as the season progressed. Dhruv Jurel managed to score once, Hetmyer provided finishing touches in a couple of games, and Rovman Powell hit form in one match, but consistent contributions from the middle order were lacking. This inconsistency was particularly detrimental in crucial run chases.
In conclusion, Rajasthan Royals’ mid-season collapse in IPL 2024 can be attributed to their over-reliance on the impact player rule, critical injuries, and inconsistencies within their middle order. These factors collectively eroded the momentum they had built during the initial phase of the tournament, leaving them struggling to stay afloat when it mattered most. As they prepare to face another Royals team in the eliminator, their journey serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the world of cricket.
