IPL 2026 Auction: How Rajasthan Royals can rebuild their team with limited purse?
Rajasthan Royals have retained 13 players ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
3 Min Read
Rajasthan Royals enter the IPL 2026 mini auction facing one of the most challenging phases in their recent history. After finishing ninth in the 2025 season, the franchise underwent a squad overhaul, releasing several players, members of the think tank, 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. While the decision adds balance and experience, but also creates a leadership conundrum. It places additional pressure on the franchise to get their auction strategy exactly right, especially with only INR 16.05 crore remaining in their purse.
Ravindra Jadeja reached out to RR for trade, reveals owner
RR release Samson
The Samson trade is easily Rajasthan’s most emotional and impactful exit in years. Samson had been the face of the franchise for over a decade. Furthermore, Nitish Rana’s move to the Delhi Capitals also removes a dependable Indian middle-order option. Along with them, RR have released Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, and Kunal Rathore, effectively clearing out their entire spin department and most of their Indian bench strength. The squad currently sits with nine vacant slots, one of them overseas.
RR's work at trading window
On the incoming side, RR have secured three big names through trades, including Jadeja, Curran, and wicketkeeper-batter Donovan Ferreira. However, Jadeja’s age has triggered a debate about who captains the team. With Samson gone, Jadeja looks the obvious choice, but his captaincy record in the IPL has historically been turbulent. His short and challenging stint as CSK captain still raises questions. The Royals may look toward a younger name like Riyan Parag or Dhruv Jurel in an attempt to build a long-term core.
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Rajasthan to fill in major voids across departments
Despite the big trades, Rajasthan still has clear areas to address. Their spin department has been completely emptied, with Hasaranga, Theekshana, and Kartikeya all released, which leaves Jadeja as the lone frontline spinner. Given pitches in Jaipur often help slower bowlers, this is a major priority. Their final overseas slot is likely to be used on a specialist spinner. If the bidding gets intense, they may incline to Indian options like Rahul Chahar, Karn Sharma, or a domestic spinner who fits their budget. Notably, RR cannot afford a luxury purchase as they must find a spinner who supports Jadeja without consuming too much of their remaining purse.
In the pace department, Jofra Archer remains the leader of the attack, but his injury history makes it risky to rely on him alone. Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, and Sandeep Sharma are expected to be able to support, but Rajasthan must pick at least one reliable Indian pacer who can bowl in pressure overs. With limited funds, RR will target value-for-money bowlers such as Mohit Sharma, Simranjeet Singh, Kuldeep Sen, or Akash Deep.
The middle order will require attention after Nitish Rana’s exit leaves space for an experienced Indian batter who can stabilize innings when needed. With Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, supported by Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and the explosive Shimron Hetmyer, Rajasthan has potential but lacks an Indian middle-order anchor. Budget-friendly names like Mahipal Lomror or Abhinav Manohar fit their requirements and would allow the team to spend more aggressively on their bowling needs.
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