IPL 2025: Ajay Jadeja reveals Rajasthan Royals' 4 retentions ahead of mega auction, Riyan Parag snubbed

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja picked his retentions for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the mega auction of the IPL 2025. He believes that the Team should retain skipper Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and two premier spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday (28th September) released the retention policy for the teams ahead of the mega auction. Each franchise can retain up to 6 players, including the RTM Cards. Therefore management of all the teams would be on the drawing board.

For Rajasthan Royals, a job would be a bit tough because they have a team filled with superstars. The likes of Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and others have been integral parts of the team in the last few seasons.

But according to Ajay Jadeja, Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal should be the two certain retentions for the Rajasthan Royals. While calling, the skipper as team's life, he said:

"There shouldn't be too much change there (in RR). Sanju Samson is this team's life, there is no doubt about that. You won't want to leave Jaiswal. So these two are certain for me," Ajay Jadeja said in Colours Cineplex

Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been on the backbones of the team for the last few years. In the last season, the captain amassed 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46 in 15 innings while the opening batter scored 435 runs at an average of 31.07 and a strike rate of 155.91.

Ajay Jadeja also cited the contribution of Ravichandran Ashwin, saying that the off-spinner has revived his career and he won't let him go. He also believes that leaving out Yuzvendra Chahal will be a bad decision as well. He added:

"How can you leave Ravichandran Ashwin? He has shown a revival in his career as well if you see the last three-year cycle. So I won't leave him as well. I didn't understand how RCB left Chahal. I am going with players, not about the amount at the moment. You won't want to leave these four but Jos Buttler is also another player,"

Chahal has been amongst the leading wicket-takers for the team in the last few seasons. He picked 18 wickets at an economy rate of 9.41 in last season while Ashwin picked 9 wickets at at an economy rate of 8.49 in 14 innings.

I won't take his name in the first five - Ajay Jadeja on Riyan Parag's retention

Ajay Jadeja further mentioned although Riyan Parag is the future of the team and has been groomed well, he won't be picking him in the first five retentions. He also explained why he wants the Rajasthan Royals to retain Ravichandran Ashwin. Ajay Jadeja added:

"Riyan Parag, pardon me, he shouldn't get angry. I won't take his name in the first five, although he is this team's No. 1 today and in the future. However, if you are keeping only four, I will go towards them (Samson, Jaiswal, Ashwin and Chahal), which they won't do. There is no doubt that they will go towards Riyan Parag because he has also been an integral part of their team,"

"He has been prepared as a player here. When that emotion comes, you look differently, that someone has become old and might not last three years, and can be picked in the auction, but according to me, just like we say Jasprit Bumrah is rare, similarly if Ravichandran Ashwin is not in the mood where he wants to bowl everything, the way he bowls and bats regularly, and the intelligence he has, he is next to Jasprit Bumrah for me," he concluded.