Rajasthan Royals will enter the IPL 2026 auction with a remaining purse of Rs 16.05 crore. The team made major changes before the mini-auction, including trading out Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings and bringing in Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira.
RR kept a strong and balanced core for IPL 2026. Their batting group stays secure with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shubham Dubey, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. The pace attack remains stable through Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Kwena Maphaka, and Yudhvir Singh. Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira add all-round strength.
The team released Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, and Ashok Sharma to reshape their squad.
Speaking about the retention and releases, Kumar Sangakkara said,
“We are very pleased with the balance and depth of the squad following our retentions and key trades going into 2026.
“We’ve retained a core that understands our environment and plays the brand of cricket we believe in. The additions of Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira further strengthen us across most phases of the game.
“We also want to extend our gratitude to the players not retained in this cycle, and we look forward to the possibilities that the auction may bring.”
What Players should the Rajasthan Royals eye at the IPL 2026 Auction
The Rajasthan Royals are heading into 2026 IPL with a very different identity after a series of major trades and releases. The most significant shift came through the decision to move on from Samson and bring in Jadeja and Sam Curran. This shows that RR wants more all-round depth and a stronger bowling core. Jadeja brings control with the ball, sharp fielding, and late-order batting. Curran adds left-arm swing, lower-order hitting, and flexibility in different match situations.
Samson’s exit leaves a clear vacuum in leadership, and this is now one of the franchise’s biggest decisions. Riyan Parag has experience as a stand-in captain but did not produce strong results. Yashasvi Jaiswal brings energy and long-term potential but has not captained at this level before. The captaincy choice, if chosen internally, can be either Jaiswal, Jurel, or Parag.
RR have also made their spin department thinner by releasing Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. Apart from Jadeja, there is no frontline spinner, and this creates a clear requirement for the auction. They need a dependable spinner like Rahul Chahar or Ravi Bishnoi, or the team will be too reliant on Jadeja through long spells.
The move to trade Nitish Rana is another talking point because Rana filled the No. 3 slot well. Donovan Ferreira brings power-hitting but does not fill the same tactical role, which means RR must find a reliable top-order batter in the auction. Venkatesh Iyer is an ideal replacement candidate for the No. 3 slot, or they can go for an overseas player like Devon Conway, who was released by CSK.
RR’s purse of ₹16.05 crore gives them enough room to target a quality spinner, a top-order batter, and possibly a backup pacer. Their retained group has strong young talent like Jaiswal, Parag, Jurel, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and key bowlers such as Jofra Archer and Kwena Maphaka. The team now looks more flexible but has clear gaps to address.
FAQs
Q. Why is Sanju Samson leaving RR?
A. Sanju Samson told the Rajasthan Royals that he wants a new start with a different team.
Q. Were Jadeja and Samson traded?
A. Yes. RR sent Sanju to CSK. CSK sent Jadeja and Sam Curran to RR.
Q. Is Sam Curran traded to RR?
A. Yes. Sam Curran moved from CSK to RR in the same trade.
Q. Who bought Jofra Archer in the IPL auction?
A. Rajasthan Royals bought Jofra Archer for ₹12.50 crore.
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