Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid came to the defense of Dhruv Jurel amid criticism following the team’s sixth loss while chasing in IPL 2025. The Royals have struggled in run chases this season, winning only once out of seven attempts, with their latest defeat coming against Punjab Kings despite a strong start.
Dravid emphasized that Jurel, retained for Rs 14 crore, has performed admirably under pressure all season, often entering games when the required run rate was steep—around 13 to 14 runs per over. He praised Jurel’s ability to hold the innings together from a challenging No. 5 position and highlighted the difficulty of batting under such conditions.
The coach also expressed optimism about Rajasthan’s young Indian talent pool, mentioning players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Jurel himself. Dravid pointed out that many of these youngsters will gain valuable international experience in the coming year, which should strengthen the squad for IPL 2026.
Reflecting on Sunday’s loss at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Dravid noted that despite a blazing 50-run opening stand between Vaibhav and Jaiswal in just three overs, the team couldn’t capitalize and ended their chase at 209 runs against Punjab’s 220. He acknowledged the recurring problem of failing to finish strong after good starts, both with the bat and ball.
Dravid highlighted a critical moment when Punjab accelerated late, scoring 60 runs in the last four overs after being 159 for five in the 16th over. This late surge, he said, was a decisive phase that swung the match away from Rajasthan.
He also called for collective responsibility, pointing out that the bowling unit has struggled to contain runs and take wickets consistently on pitches that aren’t excessively high-scoring. Dravid stressed that these issues will need addressing ahead of next season.
Despite the setbacks, Dravid remains confident in the talent and potential of his young squad and expects their experience and skills to mature significantly in the coming year.
