Jaipur (Rajasthan): Following Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) elimination from the IPL 2025 playoff race, the franchise’s fielding coach Dishant Yagnik addressed growing criticism over the decision not to retain star English batter Jos Buttler. In the aftermath of a crushing 100-run defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI), Yagnik urged fans and critics alike to move on and focus on the current core, stressing the need to build new stars rather than lament past choices.
“Time has come for us to look beyond such things,” Yagnik said at the post-match press conference. “When we do not have them, we have to forget and move on. Now we have Vaibhav [Suryavanshi], Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson as our captain. We will move forward with this team and win with these players.”
RR’s 2025 season fell flat, with just three wins from 11 games. The team’s decision to rely on a young Indian core and a limited overseas presence—mainly Shimron Hetmyer—came under scrutiny, especially after repeated batting collapses and Buttler’s absence was sorely felt at the top of the order.
However, Yagnik remained optimistic about the team’s direction: “Nobody enters a team as a superstar, they are made. We do not buy them, we make them.” He cited the example of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who lit up the tournament with a sensational century earlier in the season, though he was dismissed for a duck in the latest match.
On Vaibhav’s development, Yagnik remarked, “He is mature for a 14-year-old and feels no pressure. That’s what sets him apart.”
Reflecting on RR’s overall campaign, Yagnik admitted the team faltered in crucial moments: “In three matches, we were dominating, but missed out during crunch moments. It is common in cricket.”
He also defended the decision to bowl first after winning the toss, citing dew and overcast conditions at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium as favorable for bowling under lights.
In Thursday’s match, MI’s openers Ryan Rickelton (61) and Rohit Sharma (53) stitched together a 116-run stand. MI piled up 217/2, with late fireworks from Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya (both 48*). RR’s chase collapsed under pressure, with only Jofra Archer (30) putting up a fight. The Royals were skittled for 117 in 16.1 overs, losing by a massive 100-run margin.
With just six points from 11 matches, RR sits in eighth place and is officially out of the playoff race. MI, meanwhile, sits atop the table with 14 points from 11 games.