one Rajasthan Royals (RR) Standout performers in recent years, veteran leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal not retained by franchise for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Joining the Royals in 2022, Chahal made an immediate impact, playing three successful seasons and establishing himself as a crucial player in their bowling unit.
Impressive performances in IPL
Chahal’s 2022 season with RR was exceptional as he scored 27 wickets in 17 matches, displaying his ability to control games with variations and precision. He delivered another strong performance in 2023, securing 21 wickets. While his 2024 season saw a slight dip with 18 shutouts, his save rate improved to 9.41, which factored into the Royals’ decision not to retain him as they looked at young talent.
Chahal’s potential impact in the 2025 auction
As the leading wicket-taker in IPL history with 205 scalps, Chahal’s experience and skill make him a valuable asset. several franchises including the likes Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Those looking to strengthen their spin-bowling squads are expected to chase him in the upcoming auction. His consistency and IPL pedigree make him an ideal candidate to lead the spin attack and he could make a significant offering as teams look for experienced bowlers to bolster their ranks in the upcoming season.
Also READ: IPL 2025 Auction: Who is Thomas Jack Draka? Italian player with MI connection
3 Reasons RCB Can Target Yuzvendra Chahal in IPL 2025 Auction
1. Proven match winner at Chinnaswamy Stadium
Chahal has an exceptional track record at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium where he stands as the highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 52 scalps. Despite the stadium’s reputation as a “graveyard for bowlers” due to its high-scoring nature and short boundaries, Chahal’s remarkable ability to extract spin and control runs made him a standout performer.
Chahal, who played with RCB for eight seasons before joining the Royals, knows the Chinnaswamy pitch well and prefers it when it comes to both strategy and execution. His success in this space can be attributed to his ability to adjust his pace, especially his slower deliveries, which he uses to deceive the batters on this inclined pitch. With RCB often struggling with consistency in their spin attack, Chahal’s return could bring stability and firepower and give them a reliable wicketkeeping option at home.
2. Increase Wicket taking ability in middle order
One of RCB’s recurring problems has been a lack of penetration in the middle sections, which often allows the opposition to build dangerous partnerships. Chahal, known for his consistent hitting ability in these middle stages, can provide the perfect solution. Throughout his IPL career, Chahal has shown the ability to break certain partnerships by tempting bowlers with flight and full-length deliveries, a high-risk but high-reward approach.
He displayed this ability especially in the 2022 season with Royals, where he scored 27 wickets to win the Purple Cap and was instrumental in RR’s journey to the finals. The mindset of taking such calculated risks on tough pitches is exactly what RCB have done to build pressure during those crucial middle overs and prevent the opposition from settling into long, match-deciding stands.
3. Experience and Leadership in Spin Bowling
It was a surprising decision when RCB chose not to retain Chahal ahead of the 2022 season despite him being one of their most reliable players. After joining RCB in 2014, Chahal quickly emerged as a key figure in the bowling ranks and ended his tenure as the franchise’s leading wicket-taker with 139 wickets in 113 matches.
His breakthrough season came in 2015 with 23 wickets, leading RCB to the playoffs, followed by another star haul of 21 wickets in 2016 as the team reached the final. However, the Royals took advantage of his presence and Chahal did not disappoint, winning the Purple Cap in 2022 and helping the Royals to a runner-up finish. In his three seasons with RR, Chahal scored 66 wickets in 46 matches to become second on the franchise’s all-time wicket-taking list.
