Sunil Gavaskar didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Rajasthan Royals’ lack of game awareness after their dramatic collapse against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 24. At one point, RR were cruising in their chase of 206, needing just 18 runs from the final two overs with five wickets in hand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

But what unfolded stunned everyone — they lost the plot entirely, eventually falling short by 11 runs. The turning point came in the 19th over when Josh Hazlewood bowled a near-perfect spell, giving away just a single run and picking up two crucial wickets. The pressure got to the RR batting unit, who couldn’t muster the composure required in the dying moments.

Despite a solid foundation and momentum, the Royals were eventually restricted to 194/9. Sunil Gavaskar, visibly puzzled, questioned the tactical mindset of the players, especially under the guidance of Rahul Dravid, a man known for his clarity and strategic depth.

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“It was baffling,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “Being at the ground, you could see it — it was unthinking cricket. With someone like Dravid in the dugout, you expect more composure and better decision-making.”

He further added, “You can’t expect young or inexperienced players to get it right every time, but the lack of structured thinking was surprising. Dravid was always known for his meticulous planning. I’d have thought some of that would reflect in how the batters approached the chase.”

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Dravid, who led India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024 before rejoining Rajasthan Royals as head coach, has had a forgettable start in his return to franchise cricket. With just two wins from nine games, the Royals are now staring at an early exit from the playoff race, leaving both fans and experts questioning where it all went wrong.