Rajasthan Royals Revamp Squad for IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals bolstered their squad for the 2026 Indian Premier League season through strategic trades and targeted purchases at the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, aiming to rebound from a ninth-place finish in 2025.

The franchise, inaugural IPL champions in 2008, entered the auction with a settled core after retaining key players such as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, allrounder Riyan Parag, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, and pacer Jofra Archer. They addressed gaps in leadership and bowling via trades, acquiring allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran from Chennai Super Kings in exchange for captain Sanju Samson, who departed after 12 years with the team. Additionally, they brought in batter Donovan Ferreira from Delhi Capitals. These moves provided batting depth and allround versatility, with Jadeja potentially stepping into a leadership role alongside Parag.

At the auction, Rajasthan Royals spent selectively from their purse, acquiring nine players without major splurges beyond two standout buys. Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, a key addition to the spin attack, fetched 7.2 crore rupees, while New Zealand quick Adam Milne joined for 2.4 crore rupees. Other purchases...