Marking the end: Jos Buttler shares a parting post for Rajasthan Royals

The ten IPL teams have finalized their respective retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. With a limit of retaining up to six players, several big names have been left in the auction pool. One of the most surprising decisions has come from the den of the defending champions. Kolkata Knight Riders have let go of their title-winning skipper, Shreyas Iyer, ahead of the mega auction. Another decision that has puzzled the fraternity is the release of star batter Jos Buttler by Rajasthan Royals, despite using all six retention slots. Joining the team in 2018, the English white-ball captain had established himself as one of the faces of RR alongside Sanju Samson. However, the upcoming season may see the Royals and Buttler competing against each other.

"If this is the end...": Jos Buttler posts a heartfelt message for Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2025

On Sunday, Jos Buttler posted a heartfelt message to his IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals, ahead of IPL 2025. Rajasthan Royals retained six players in their core lineup for the upcoming mega auction, but the English captain didn’t make it into those six slots. The Royals chose five Indian players and selected Shimron Hetmyer as their only overseas retention. The franchise invested 14 crores each in young Indian prospects Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. With all six slots now filled, Rajasthan will not have any RTM cards available in the mega auction, making it highly likely that Buttler has indeed reached the end of his tenure with the Royals.

"If it turns out that this is the end, thank you @rajasthanroyals and everyone involved with the franchise for 7 incredible seasons together. 2018 kickstarted the best years of my cricketing career and many of my most cherished memories have come in a Pink shirt over the last 6 years. Thank you for welcoming me and my family with open arms. Could write so much more but let’s leave it there," Buttler posted on social media.

Jos Buttler has been with Rajasthan since IPL 2018 and has delivered numerous match-winning performances for the team. IPL 2022, in particular, showcased Buttler’s peak form in the league. The opening batter smashed five centuries that season and came close to breaking Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in an IPL season. The season saw Rajasthan reach the finals for the first time since their inaugural title win. Though the Royals lost the trophy to Gujarat Titans, Buttler finished the season with 863 runs in 17 matches, winning the orange cap by a wide margin.

There has been no official statement from the team regarding the decision to release Jos Buttler. However, the 34-year-old’s extended absence from cricket due to a calf injury may have influenced the decision. The England skipper, meanwhile, is planning his comeback through the T20I series against West Indies and is likely to be available for the entirety of IPL 2025. With Punjab Kings entering the mega auction with the largest purse, speculation is rife that Buttler could be a prime target for the franchise.