Sushant MishraThe left-arm medium pacer from Ranchi was bought by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for ₹90 lakh in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction after a competitive bidding war between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Mishra, who has consistently built a reputation as a promising fast bowler, adds depth and variety to RR's pace attack ahead of the new season.
A product of India's junior cricket system, Mishra honed his skills under the guidance of former Indian captain Rahul Dravid during his formative years. His breakthrough came when he was selected for the Indian team for the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Mishra played a key role in India's title-winning campaign by taking seven wickets at an impressive average of 19.85. One of his standout performances came against arch-rivals Pakistan, where he took three crucial wickets. His consistent performances attracted widespread attention and marked him as a player to watch.
Following the Under-19 World Cup, Mishra's performances impressed the Jharkhand selectors, paving the way for his senior domestic debut. He made his List A debut in December 2021 against Delhi at Mohali during the 2021–22 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Just a few months later, in February 2022, Mishra made his first-class debut for Jharkhand against Chhattisgarh in the 2021–22 Ranji Trophy. Despite Jharkhand losing, Mishra performed attractively, taking six wickets in both innings.
He continued his dominance in domestic cricket and took more than 20 wickets in just seven first-class matches, demonstrating his ability to achieve movement with the ball and maintain discipline. These performances did not go unnoticed and Mishra attracted keen interest from IPL franchises ahead of the 2024 auction. Starting at a base price of ₹20 lakh, his price rose to ₹2.20 crore before Gujarat Titans finally acquired his services. However, he did not get a chance to join the playing eleven.
Now with inaugural IPL season champions Rajasthan Royals, Mishra will be keen to make the most of his second chance. RR would like to utilize their left-arm angle and youth as they aim to strengthen their bowling unit and strive for another IPL title.
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