3 Bold Predictions for Sanju Samson & Rajasthan Royals 2025
Will 2025 be their year? We dive into 3 bold predictions for Sanju Samson and the Rajasthan Royals, from a record-breaking season to a brave mega-auction strategy.
Arjun Mehra
Former state-level cricketer and a lifelong analyst of the T20 game's tactics.
The story of the Rajasthan Royals is a modern cricketing paradox. A team brimming with talent, led by one of the most aesthetically pleasing batters on the planet in Sanju Samson, and yet, the second trophy remains tantalizingly out of reach. They flirt with greatness, making a final in 2022 and consistently threatening the top four, only to fall short when the lights are brightest. It’s a cycle of promise and heartbreak that leaves fans wondering: what needs to change?
As we look ahead to the IPL 2025 mega-auction and a fresh three-year cycle, the slate is wiped clean. It’s a chance for a fundamental reset. This isn’t just about buying new players; it's about redefining the team's core philosophy. With that in mind, we’re not just making safe bets. We’re going bold. Here are three predictions for Sanju Samson and the Rajasthan Royals that could shape their destiny in 2025.
Prediction 1: The Year of the Captain: Samson Shatters the 600-Run Barrier
Sanju Samson has been the soul of the Rajasthan Royals for years. His elegance is undisputed, and his ability to single-handedly win matches is a given. Yet, he's never had that one, monstrous, season-defining run tally. He consistently scores between 400-550 runs, a mark of a very good player, but not the legendary season we know he’s capable of. In 2025, that changes.
We predict Sanju Samson will not just have his personal best season, but will cross the elite 600-run mark for the first time in his IPL career.
Why Now? The Perfect Storm for a Samson Masterclass
Several factors are aligning for a career-defining year. First, the mega-auction will force a team rebuild. As the undisputed leader and likely first retention, the team will be constructed around his strengths. This isn't about fitting Samson into a pre-existing puzzle; it’s about building the puzzle around him. This could mean a more stable and explosive top order that allows him to play his natural game at number three without the constant pressure of a potential collapse.
Secondly, Samson’s role in the Indian T20I setup is perpetually on a knife's edge. A dominant, statement-making IPL season is his most powerful currency. With a new cycle beginning, a 600+ run season wouldn’t just be a statistic; it would be an undeniable claim for a permanent spot in the national team. The motivation has never been higher.
“He has all the shots, the temperament, and the experience. The only thing missing is that one season where he completely dominates from start to finish. 2025 feels like the year he puts it all together.”
Finally, there's the maturity factor. We’ve seen a calmer, more calculated Samson over the past couple of seasons. The rash shots are less frequent, replaced by a strategic aggression. This evolution, combined with the fresh start of a new squad, will unlock a new level of consistency, turning his brilliant 30s and 40s into match-winning 70s and 80s more regularly.
Prediction 2: A Strategic Overhaul: The Hunt for a Marquee All-Rounder
The Royals' biggest weakness has been team balance. They often seem a batter short or a bowler light, forcing them to rely on individual brilliance rather than collective strength. The Riyan Parag experiment as a finisher has yielded mixed results, and the dependency on Shimron Hetmyer at the death is immense. In 2025, RR will address this head-on by making their number one auction priority a genuine, world-class all-rounder.
To do this, we predict the Rajasthan Royals will make the painful but strategic decision to release Jos Buttler back into the auction pool to free up a massive chunk of their purse.
The Mega-Auction Gambit: Who Stays, Who Goes?
This sounds like blasphemy. Buttler delivered one of the greatest seasons in IPL history in 2022. But in a mega-auction, sentiment is a luxury. Retaining Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal is a no-brainer—they represent the present and future of Indian batting. That leaves two more retention spots (or one, depending on the rules). Do you use a precious overseas slot on an opener, however great, when top-class openers are more readily available in the auction than game-changing all-rounders?
By releasing Buttler, RR could potentially free up 10-14 crores, giving them the financial muscle to outbid rivals for a player who can bowl 4 overs and finish an innings. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that champions are made of.
The Missing Piece: Potential All-Rounder Targets
Who could they target? The goal is to find a player who provides balance and firepower. Here are a few archetypes they might pursue:
| Player Archetype | Potential Targets | What They Bring |
|---|---|---|
| Pace-Bowling Finisher | Cameron Green, Azmatullah Omarzai | High-impact hitting in the middle/death overs and 2-3 overs of reliable pace. Solves the 6th bowler and finisher problem in one go. |
| Spin-Hitting Powerhouse | Rachin Ravindra, Shahrukh Khan (if bowling improves) | Dominates the middle overs against spin and offers a handy bowling option, allowing the team to play an extra specialist pacer. |
Prediction 3: From the Nets to the Limelight: RR Unearths a New Pace Sensation
If there’s one thing the Royals do better than almost anyone, it’s scouting. From Ravindra Jadeja in the inaugural season to Sanju Samson, Chetan Sakariya, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, their talent-spotting is second to none. While established stars win you games, it’s the uncapped gems who often define a championship-winning squad's depth and X-factor.
Our final prediction is that the breakout star of IPL 2025 will be a young, uncapped Indian fast bowler discovered and backed by the Rajasthan Royals.
The Royals' Scouting DNA
In a mega-auction year, every team is looking for value buys. RR will lean into their strength. While others are scrambling for known domestic commodities, the Royals will have already identified their man from the domestic circuits, a player who isn't on anyone else's radar. Think of the impact of Mohsin Khan for LSG or Umran Malik for SRH. RR will find their own version.
We envision a tall right-arm or left-arm pacer with the ability to clock over 140-145 kph consistently. He won’t just be about raw pace; he’ll have a deceptive slower ball and, crucially, the nerve to bowl at the death. With Trent Boult aging and Avesh Khan’s form being inconsistent, a new, fearless pacer to partner with someone like Sandeep Sharma could revolutionize their bowling attack. This unknown quantity will not just play a supporting role but will win them 2-3 games on his own, finishing the season with 15+ wickets and the Emerging Player award in his sights.
The Verdict: A New Dawn or the Same Old Story?
The path forward for the Rajasthan Royals requires courage. It means empowering their captain to reach his ultimate potential, making a ruthless strategic call on a club legend to fix a fundamental team imbalance, and trusting their world-class scouting system to unearth another diamond.
These predictions are bold for a reason. Playing it safe has kept the Royals in the conversation, but it hasn’t brought them the glory they crave. A dominant Samson, a balanced squad with a marquee all-rounder, and a surprise pace weapon could be the three-pronged attack that finally turns the 'Halla Bol' spirit into championship gold. 2025 will be the ultimate test of their nerve.