Rajasthan Royals (RR) have looked decidedly off-colour in this IPL season, and the pattern is hard to miss: three outings in Guwahati have brought three wins, while their record in Jaipur has flipped the other way with three matches and three losses. Former opener Deep Dasgupta believes the simplest explanation is that RR simply haven’t been playing their best cricket lately, whereas Mitchell McClenaghan points to a more specific issue at the top of the order—Jofra Archer hasn’t been getting the kind of help from Jaipur conditions that he enjoyed previously.
Why Jaipur has been a problem for RR
Dasgupta’s view is that the Royals’ struggles in Jaipur come down to performance rather than luck. He said he can’t think of any other reason beyond RR not executing consistently enough in their home games, highlighting that the venue tends to produce plenty of runs. He also stressed that RR’s batting has often been top-heavy, with the middle order continuing to be a concern across seasons, including this one. In particular, Dhruv Jurel’s season has been described as “up-and-down,” reinforcing the idea that RR haven’t been able to smooth over innings once early momentum fades.
McClenaghan, who watched Archer closely, offered a conditions-based explanation. He suggested that the bounce and “lift” that Archer used to exploit at the Royals’ earlier home ground are not present in the same way in Jaipur. In his assessment, the conditions are not well suited for true seam movement or lateral swing, and that has reduced the effectiveness that Archer can bring when the ball is moving off the pitch.
Archer’s recent spell: early wickets, then a dry run
Archer’s start at Jaipur looked promising, but his wicket-taking has tailed off since then. From April 7 to May 1, he produced wicket hauls in eight straight matches, with at least one dismissal in each of them. In the first Jaipur game of the season, he also took two wickets. However, after that, the numbers have gone against him: he has returned figures of 1 for 46 and 0 for 46 in the later matches.
The Gujarat Titans over that set the tone
The criticism of RR’s bowling showed up quickly in the match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday evening, during the first over of GT’s innings. Archer was required to bowl 11 deliveries to finish the over, and it became a costly one in every sense—timing, control, and rhythm all appeared to be missing.
- On the third ball, it took five deliveries to complete the count because of a no-ball.
- After that, Archer conceded five wides down the leg side.
- Then he added two more wides down the leg side before finally delivering a legal ball.
- The over ultimately cost RR 18 runs.
McClenaghan on Archer’s rhythm and accuracy
McClenaghan joked that even watching the over was tiring, pointing to the effort it takes to get through such a sequence. He added that the problem wasn’t just about the runs—it was also about Archer’s radar. In his view, players returning after a break can lose their rhythm, and RR had been playing after an eight-day gap. The over “wasn’t on the mark” and did not look crisp, he said.
Shane Bond frustrated as RR slip in the standings
After the game, RR bowling coach Shane Bond sounded visibly frustrated at a clear trend: RR have now conceded well over 200 runs in four consecutive matches, and they have won only one of those games. Bond said the side has not played well enough in matchups where the conditions are known and familiar, adding that the opposition has simply outplayed RR.
He said the core expectation from bowlers remains the same: they “have to be better.” Bond argued that the team needs to think differently, and he broke the issues into two parts—decision-making and execution. In his assessment, execution “just wasn’t consistent enough for long enough,” and he suggested that similar patterns have been visible across the league as well.
- RR’s bowling has struggled when opponents play ultra-aggressive cricket early, putting constant pressure on bowlers.
- Bond believes bowlers must adjust what they do differently rather than repeating the same approach.
- He said bowlers need more time with analysts to understand exactly where each batter is likely to score, including the scoring zones.
- He suggested tactical changes such as varying run-up lengths—barring and then extending the approach—and being able to bowl from both sides, including coming around the wicket.
The bigger message: develop a wider bowling range
Bond also expanded the argument beyond just tactics. If the same outcomes keep happening game after game, he said the real question becomes whether the bowling group is developing anything new. He pointed to how batters have evolved, citing shots like the uppercut, reverse-sweep and scoop, and said batters have built a wider range of scoring options. In that context, Bond argued bowlers must develop their own range of skills too, describing it as an opportunity for anyone to “elevate” themselves and become a standout name in the competition. Still, he felt RR have not consistently seen that development across the board.
He acknowledged that it is not easy for bowlers to deal with modern aggression, but he framed it as a choice: fear what is happening on the field or treat it as a chance to improve and put your name “up in lights.”
What the losing run means for RR’s play-off hopes
The effect of the sequence of defeats has been immediate in the table. RR, who were close to the top earlier in the season, have slipped to No. 5 with only three league-stage matches left. Play-off qualification is still possible, but with wins drying up, it is a serious concern for a franchise that will not want this campaign to end the way it did in 2025.
