Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 enters the mini auction facing one of the most challenging stages in its recent history. After finishing ninth in the 2025 season, the franchise made a team overhaul, releasing several players, think tank members and making bold trades.
The biggest headline from their release list was the exit of long-time captain Sanju Samson, who has been traded to Chennai Super Kings. In return, RR have brought in two star all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Although this decision adds balance and experience, it also creates a leadership dilemma. This puts additional pressure on the franchise to get their auction strategy exactly right, especially when they have only Rs 16.05 crore left in their purse.
RR releases Samson
Samson Trade is Rajasthan's most emotional and impressive exit in the last few years. Samson had been the face of the franchise for over a decade. Additionally, Nitish Rana's move to Delhi Capitals also removes a reliable Indian middle-order option. Along with them, RR have released Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Ashok Sharma, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Karthikeya and Krunal Rathore, effectively dismantling their entire spin department and most of their Indian bench strength. The team currently has nine vacancies, one of which is overseas.
RR work on trading window
On the visiting side, RR have acquired three big names through trades, including Jadeja, Curran and wicketkeeper-batsman Donovan Ferreira. However, Jadeja's age has sparked debate over who will captain the team. With Samson gone, Jadeja looks the obvious choice, but his captaincy record in the IPL has historically been a patchy one. His short and challenging tenure as CSK captain still raises questions. The Royals may consider a young name like Riyan Parag or Dhruv Jurel in an attempt to build a long-term core.
Major vacancies will be filled in departments in Rajasthan
Despite big businesses, Rajasthan still has clear areas to address. Their spin department has been completely emptied, with Hasaranga, Theekshana and Karthikeya all released, leaving Jadeja as the only frontline spinner. Given that Jaipur pitches often favor slower bowlers, this is a major priority. His final overseas slot is likely to be used on a specialist spinner. If the bidding gets intense, they may turn to Indian options like Rahul Chahar, Karn Sharma, or a homegrown spinner who fits their budget. Notably, RR cannot afford a luxury buy as they need to find a spinner who can support Jadeja without consuming too much of their remaining purse.
In the pace department, Jofra Archer remains the leader of the attack, but relying on him alone is risky due to his injury history. Nandre Berger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Mafaka and Sandeep Sharma are expected to provide support, but Rajasthan will need to pick at least one reliable Indian fast bowler who can bowl pressure overs. With limited funds, RR will target value-for-money bowlers like Mohit Sharma, Simranjeet Singh, Kuldeep Sen or Akash Deep.
With Nitish Rana out, there will be a need to focus on the middle order, making room for an experienced Indian batsman who can steady the innings if needed. With Yashasvi Jaiswal at the helm, supported by Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and the explosive Shimron Hetmyer, Rajasthan have potential but lack the anchor of the Indian middle-order. Budget-friendly names like Mahipal Lomror or Abhinav Manohar meet their requirements and will allow the team to spend more aggressively on their bowling needs.
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