IPL 2025: Why Royals Struggled Against Titans?

Rajasthan Royals can’t seem to figure out their lineup, and their big loss to Gujarat Titans on April 9, 2025, showed just how messy things have gotten in IPL 2025. Imagine this: a pitch perfect for batting, the ball flying off the bat, and Royals show up with only five bowlers. Their star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was missing for personal reasons, and they didn’t have a backup plan. Gujarat smashed 217/6, won by 58 runs, and left Royals fans scratching their heads. Jofra Archer was the only one who kept things under control, using the pitch’s speed and bounce to bowl tight at 7.50 runs an over. But the others? Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, and Sandeep Sharma got hit all over, leaking more than 10 runs an over, and part-timers like Riyan Parag never even got a chance to bowl.

The middle of the game was a disaster. For almost seven overs from 2.1 to 9.6, Royals didn’t take a single wicket, then went another five-plus overs without one later. That gave Gujarat a solid base to build on, and they went wild at the end—scoring 18, 13, 11, 14, and 16 in the last five overs. Without a sixth bowler, Royals had no way to ease the pressure, and it showed. Fazalhaq Farooqi, filling in for Hasaranga, did okay at 9.50, but that didn’t help much when the rest couldn’t stop the runs. The final overs were sloppy too—plans fell apart, and Gujarat took full advantage, probably getting 20 more runs than Royals could afford on a night when Gujarat’s teamwork outshone theirs.

Look closer, and the problems pile up. Royals have stuck with just six batters since early in the season, even with the Impact Player rule that lets teams swap players. That choice raised eyebrows after game two, when Parag led the side and Sanju Samson was stuck batting-only with a sore finger. A win against Punjab Kings last match hinted they might be finding their groove, but this loss says otherwise. Gujarat, though, played it smart and loose. They didn’t lock players into set jobs—when the pitch favored fast bowling, they brought in a fourth seamer as an Impact Sub. Their bowlers, with pace and spin working together, got it right every time. For Royals, the batting didn’t fire, and the bowling couldn’t save them.

Here’s the silver lining: Archer’s looking sharp. After a rough start to IPL 2025, he’s turned it around, sorting out his approach with coach Shane Bond’s help. He’s bowling smooth and strong, a bright spot in a team that’s still a jumble. T20 is tricky—mistakes happen—but Royals are tripping over too many. They’ve got the skills, no doubt, yet something’s not clicking. Gujarat’s clever switches made them look flat, and without Hasaranga, the middle overs are a gaping hole. This wasn’t just a bad day—it’s a wake-up call. Royals need to sort this mess quick, or they’ll spend the season playing catch-up.

                                               

Relevant news