RR vs KKR IPL 2025: 3 mistakes made by Rajasthan Royals; Check out IPL 2025 points table

Rajasthan Royals endured another disappointing loss as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) comprehensively defeated them by eight wickets in Guwahati on Wednesday. The Royals have been dominated by opponents in their first two games, which is a worrying sign as they progress in the tournament. This second consecutive defeat has dragged them to the bottom of the points table, with two losses in as many games. After conceding 286 runs in their first match, Rajasthan once again struggled with the ball, falling victim to Quinton de Kock’s onslaught in Guwahati.

The southpaw played a phenomenal knock of 97 runs off just 61 deliveries, leading KKR to an eight-wicket victory. It hasn’t been an ideal start for the Royals, and they must go back to the drawing board to reassess their mistakes and formulate better strategies moving forward.

In this article, we look at three glaring mistakes Rajasthan Royals made in their clash against KKR:

1. Riyan Parag at No. 3, while Nitish Rana at No. 4

Riyan Parag batted at No. 4 for Rajasthan Royals last season and finished as their leading run-scorer with 573 runs in 15 games. He thrived in that role, providing stability and aggression in the middle order. However, in the first two games of this season, Parag was promoted to No. 3 but failed to deliver. After the matches, Parag revealed in an interview that the decision was made by the team management, not him.

His promotion also disrupts Nitish Rana’s natural batting position, as Rana is more comfortable batting at No. 3. Rajasthan’s attempt to use Parag as a power-hitter at one-down has backfired so far. With limited experience in the middle order, it would be wiser to restore Parag to No. 4, where he excelled last season.

2. Hetmyer sent at No. 8

Shimron Hetmyer has been one of Rajasthan Royals’ most consistent finishers. He played a brilliant knock of 42 off 23 balls in the high-scoring encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite his recent form, Rajasthan sent him at No. 8 in the 15th over against KKR. By the end of the 17th over, he had faced only six balls, eventually scoring 7 off 8 deliveries—a questionable tactical move given his ability to accelerate in the death overs.

With a player of Hetmyer’s caliber and finishing skills, Rajasthan’s decision to push him so far down the order was unfathomable and limited his impact.

3. Not persisting with Jofra Archer for a third over

Early in the powerplay, the pitch offered ample assistance to the seamers, with movement and bounce available. Jofra Archer started well, bowling with pace and precision. He conceded just two runs in his first over, but his second over went for 13 runs.

At a time when Rajasthan Royals desperately needed wickets, they surprisingly replaced Archer with Riyan Parag in the fifth over. Given the conditions and the threat posed by Quinton de Kock, Rajasthan should have persisted with Archer for another over with the new ball. A third over from Archer at that stage could have increased their chances of an early breakthrough

IPL 2025 Points Table