Rajasthan Royals pacer Sandeep Sharma didn’t hold back after yet another narrow defeat saw his side’s IPL 2025 campaign teetering on the edge. Following their 11-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Sandeep acknowledged that RR’s inability to seize the defining moments is becoming a worrying trend this season.
Chasing a stiff target of 206, Rajasthan began brightly, thanks to a blistering 49-run knock by Yashasvi Jaiswal. But as has been the case too often in this campaign, the Royals faltered when it mattered most. What seemed like a comfortable chase turned into another late-innings collapse — a storyline that’s beginning to define their season. With this loss, RR have now slipped to eighth in the standings and are on the brink of playoff elimination.
“We’re failing to capitalise on those crunch moments — whether it’s in a chase or when defending a total,” Sandeep Sharma admitted. “Every T20 match presents a few key moments, and this season, we’ve let them slip. Dropped catches, poor shot selection, wickets at the wrong time — we’re falling apart right when we need to pull together.”
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Sandeep Sharma also pointed out the gaping hole left by regular captain Sanju Samson, who continues to be sidelined due to a side strain. The Kerala cricketer had earlier missed the season’s opening matches with a finger injury, and his recurring absence seems to have destabilised the side.
“Sanju brings a lot of stability — as a captain and a batter. He’s smart, experienced, and calm under pressure. Missing him has hurt us. Not having that leadership on the field when games are going down to the wire is definitely a setback,” Sandeep Sharma added.
The Royals are now staring at a five-match losing streak — their worst run since the 2009-10 season. The road ahead isn’t getting any easier either. They next face table-toppers Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium — a must-win clash to keep faint playoff hopes alive.
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“In three of our recent games, we needed around nine runs per over — that’s very achievable in modern-day T20s. But we’re losing wickets at key junctures, and failing to execute our plans under pressure,” Sandeep Sharma said. He also reflected on last season’s success. “It’s the same core — Jaiswal, Riyan, Dhruv. Last year, they delivered in these situations. We were sharp in the field, composed with the bat. That’s what we’re missing this time — the ability to win those little moments.”
