IPL 2025: Bit surprised RR didn’t retain Buttler, KKR haven’t utilised their resources, says Kumble

New Delhi: One can safely say that Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are in the same boat, as far as IPL 2025 points table and playoffs scenarios are concerned. KKR, the defending champions, are at seventh place with six points, while RR, the inaugural edition winners, are a position below them with four points.

With the race of making it to the playoffs intensifying, both teams have an uphill task at their hands. Anil Kumble, the legendary India leg-spinner who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL, believes RR, who are on a four-match losing streak, are feeling the heat of missing Sanju Samson – first due to finger injury and now side strain, as well as realising the impact of not retaining Jos Buttler.

“I felt that both games that RR lost (to Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants), they had it in hand, which (means) they shouldn't have lost those games. I mean, it happens in the T20 format. Missing Sanju Samson is a big thing. He's a key player for Rajasthan Royals. So, that's a big miss from your batting order.

“Yashasvi batting well is certainly a good thing for them. But again, Jos Butler is someone who sort of was the key player for Rajasthan Royals for a while. He was instrumental in single-handedly doing damage to the opposition. So, we have seen that with GT.

“I was a bit surprised that RR didn't retain him. However, with the team that they have, they should have won both the games. It happens, and it's happened to many teams. You sort of lose from a winning position. I'm sure that's something that they'll have to assess,” said Kumble, a JioStar expert, to IANS in a virtual interaction, on the sidelines of “Revenge Week” taking place in the tournament.

With RR set to face RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, Kumble hopes the side has found enough time to rectify their issue of not closing chases. “Otherwise, they have the team. It's not that they don't have the team to beat any side in this competition. (IANS)

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