The decision by Rajasthan Royals (RR) to release four key players—likely including Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, and Avesh Khan (as inferred from discussions)—has sparked significant debate. Here’s a breakdown of the critical perspectives:
Jos Buttler:
England Player Jos Buttler, now with Gujarat Titans after being released by Rajasthan Royals (RR), has been in excellent form in IPL 2025. He has scored 356 runs in 8 innings, including three half-centuries. Notably, he played a match-winning unbeaten 97 off 54 balls against Delhi Capitals, anchoring a successful chase of 204 and earning Player of the Day honors. His experience and calm under pressure are assets for any team, especially in high-stakes run chases.
Trent Boult:
BlackCap Trent Boult has indeed taken 10 wickets in 9 matches for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025, playing a pivotal role in their recent resurgence, including a match-winning 4/26 spell against SRH. Boult was a key performer for RR in previous seasons. While RR’s decision might appear questionable in hindsight given Boult’s current form, IPL team-building involves complex trade-offs between budget, squad balance, and future planning. No definitive “huge mistake” can be concluded, but MI’s utilization of Boult has certainly maximized his impact.
Yuzvendra Chahal:
Chahal has taken 9 wickets in 8 matches for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. However, his recent 4/28 spell against KKR suggests he may have more wickets than the table reflects. Chahal was exceptional for RR, claiming the Purple Cap in 2022 (27 wickets) and adding 39 wickets over the next two seasons. While Chahal remains elite, RR’s release appears more strategic than a “mistake,” given auction complexities. The small sample size of 2025 performances makes definitive judgment premature.
Prasidh Krishna:
Krishna has emerged as a standout performer in IPL 2025, currently leading the Purple Cap race with 16 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 14.12 and an economy rate of around 7.24. Delivered multiple match-winning performances, including 3/24 vs RR (economy: 6.00) and 2/18 vs MI (economy 4.50). GT acquired Prasidh for INR 9.5 crore, slightly less than his previous INR 10 crore price at RR.
The team appears weakened compared to previous seasons, with new signings yet to fill the gaps left by released players.