Ambati Rayudu criticises the Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 selection approach, saying, “It is some great charity that they’re doing.”

With only two victories and six defeats in their first eight games of the 2025 Indian Premier League season, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a dismal start to the campaign. Since they now need to win their final six games of the season, the first champions’ campaign may be coming to an end.

Many supporters and experts have questioned the choices taken by captain Sanju Samson and head coach Rahul Dravid as a result of the Rajasthan Royals’ retention and auction plan. Several of the Royals’ young, inexperienced players have struggled to produce consistently this season. Ambati Rayudu, a six-time IPL champion, has also questioned the Royals’ team selection, calling it more of a charity gesture than a calculated attempt to win the league this season and accusing them of overinvesting in young players.

Notably, the criticism of the Rajasthan Royals team did not come solely from Ambati Rayudu.

When it comes to RR, I’ve always wondered why they’ve made such large investments in young people throughout the years. What have they gained from this? They haven’t won an IPL in seventeen years, yet they continue to act as though this is their forte. They’re promoting the game as a great charity, but it’s not. On ESPNCricinfo’s Timeout, Rayudu stated, “You’re here to compete.”

“You’re here to win the IPL, and you don’t follow any of the strategies that teams have used to achieve so. You continue to defend your own course year after year. And by offering young players from all around the world a good chance to play in the IPL, you want others to join you and recognise what a great squad you are,” he continued.

I don’t believe that skill is developed in the IPL: Boucher

In addition to him, former South Africa great and wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher asserted that the competition is intended for players who are already finished goods rather than as a nurturing ground for new players.

Yes, I just do, and this is true for any franchise. I don’t believe that skill is developed in the IPL. It’s for a final product, I believe. No team will ever enter the IPL with the mindset, “Well, we have a team here that I think is going to do well in the next three years,” I mean. You go to auction for that,” Boucher remarked.