Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) decision to release star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The duo played a pivotal role in RR’s recent success, reaching the playoffs twice in three years, including the final in 2022.
Buttler, the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the 2022 season, amassed 863 runs with four centuries. Despite a less consistent 2024, he still managed to score two more hundreds. Chahal, on the other hand, is not only RR’s highest wicket-taker in the past three seasons but also the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He has scalped 27 wickets in 2022 and has picked up 18 or more wickets in every season since 2019.
Chahal took to social media to express his gratitude towards Buttler, calling him “Jos bhai” and sharing a video of their shared moments. “In 2022, I knew him as Jos Buttler. In 2024, he’s my Jos bhai,” wrote Chahal. “Loved every day being around you and only a few people know what you’ve done for me. Thank you for always standing by me.”
RR’s decision to release Buttler and Chahal has raised questions about their strategy for the upcoming auction. With a budget of just Rs 41 crore, the lowest among all teams, RR will have to make some shrewd decisions to fill the void left by these two stars.
The Royals have appointed Rahul Dravid as their new head coach, who recently led India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid’s experience and tactical acumen will be crucial as RR looks to rebuild their squad and challenge for the IPL title once again.
