IPL 2025 Retention: Who will join Sanju Samson as other Rs 18 crore pick at Rajasthan Royals?

One of those rare IPL franchises who won’t be happy with a mega auction coming up is Rajasthan Royals (RR). It is simply because the Sanju Samson-led side only recently found a stable core that offered stability in the team like nothing else. RR have a tough decision to make. With the IPL 2025 retention window looming (deadline on Oct 31), the franchise must decide which players to keep and who to let go. Given their impressive showing in the last few seasons, the Royals are spoilt for choices, but they’ll need to make strategic choices to maintain their competitiveness. One player who is almost guaranteed to be retained as the top retention pick is obviously Sanju Samson.

RR: Sanju Samson the certainty

The charismatic wicketkeeper-batter has been a cornerstone of the franchise, leading them to the playoffs on multiple occasions. He has led the team selflessly, giving young and under-firing players the necessary backing they need. With the bat, he is the highest run-getter for the franchise, mustering 3,934 runs at a strike rate of 140.55. This is remarkable, especially for a big sample size of 141 innings. Needless to say, he will be the top most retention pick at Rs 18 crore.

However, the question remains: who will be the other player worthy of the coveted Rs 18 crore retention tag? While there are several worthy contenders for the Men in Pink, Jos Buttler could be the best choice.

IPL 2025 Retention: The case for Jos Buttler

Buttler’s impact on the Royals cannot be overstated. His explosive batting style and ability to turn a match on its head have made him a fan favourite, especially within the Pink City. The English wicketkeeper-batter has consistently delivered stupendous performances for the franchise, averaging 41.84 and striking at nearly 150. Who else remembers the unthinkable IPL 2022 season where Buttler clubbed 863 runs at 57.53? He joined Virat Kohli in an all-time IPL record for most centuries (4) in an IPL campaign.

When Buttler left at the end of the last season, RR felt his absence. After he left, they lost two of the three completed matches and couldn’t lift that elusive IPL trophy. While many overseas openers can provide blazing starts, Buttler sets himself apart courtesy of his consistency and add-on skills of wicketkeeping and massive experience of captaincy. Moreover, retaining Buttler could prevent him from being auctioned off to another team. We all know, that given the package that Buttler provides, his price can soar towards the Rs 20 crore mark anyway.

While there are other talented players in the Royals squad, Buttler’s combination of batting prowess, wicket-keeping skills, and leadership potential make him a compelling choice for the second Rs 18 crore retention. If the Royals can retain both Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler, they will have a formidable core of players to build their team around for the upcoming IPL season.