Rajasthan Royals enter IPL 2026 with a completely new identity. Riyan Parag takes over as captain after the blockbuster trade that sent former skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
Jadeja, a member of RR’s 2008 title-winning squad under Shane Warne, returns to where it all began. In the auction, RR targeted Ravi Bishnoi at 7.2 crore to strengthen their spin attack alongside Jadeja.
The squad looks well-balanced with in-form Vaibhav Suryavanshi coming off a red-hot U19 World Cup where he scored 175 in the final, Yashasvi Jaiswal in prime white-ball form, Shimron Hetmyer providing middle-order firepower, and a pace attack led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger.
Kumar Sangakkara returns as head coach for what promises to be an exciting rebuild at the Royals.
RR Predicted Playing 11 for IPL 2026
| # | Player | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Opener | India |
| 2 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Opener | India |
| 3 | Riyan Parag (C) | Middle Order / All-Rounder | India |
| 4 | Dhruv Jurel (WK) | Middle Order | India |
| 5 | Shimron Hetmyer | Middle Order | West Indies |
| 6 | Ravindra Jadeja | All Rounder | India |
| 7 | Sam Curran | All Rounder | England |
| 8 | Jofra Archer | Fast Bowler | England |
| 9 | Ravi Bishnoi | Leg Spinner | India |
| 10 | Nandre Burger | Fast Bowler | South Africa |
| 11 | Sandeep Sharma | Medium Fast | India |
| Impact | Donovan Ferreira | Wicketkeeper / Batter | South Africa |
| Impact | Vignesh Puthur | Left Arm Wrist Spinner | India |
Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been RR’s most reliable opener with 2,166 runs in 67 IPL matches at a strike rate of 152.9, including 2 centuries and 15 fifties. He holds the record for the fastest fifty in IPL history and consistently delivers explosive powerplay starts.
Alongside him, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi enters IPL 2026 in sensational form. His 175 off 80 balls in the U19 World Cup 2026 final against England broke multiple records. In IPL 2025, his 38-ball 101 against Gujarat Titans made him the youngest centurion in IPL and men’s T20 cricket history.
Middle Order: Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Shimron Hetmyer
Riyan Parag takes the captaincy at 24 and brings handy off-spin along with some of the sharpest fielding in the IPL.
His consistency improved significantly in IPL 2025, and the added responsibility should bring the best out of him. Dhruv Jurel, retained at 14 crore, has established himself as a reliable finisher for RR since his debut in 2023 with a strike rate of 153.85 and over 600 runs in his IPL career.
Shimron Hetmyer arrives in red-hot form after a record-breaking 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, where he smashed 19 sixes in a single edition, the most ever, and hit the West Indies’ fastest T20 World Cup fifty off just 19 balls against Zimbabwe.
All Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran
Ravindra Jadeja returns to the franchise where his IPL career started in 2008. With 254 IPL matches, 2,607 runs at a strike rate of 130.29, and 170 wickets with a best of 5/16, he is one of the most complete all-rounders in T20 history.
His left arm spin will be lethal on turning tracks in Guwahati and Jaipur. Sam Curran impressed at the 2026 T20 World Cup, bowling excellent death overs with perfect slower balls and yorkers while contributing 167 runs with the bat. At 2.4 crore through the trade, Curran is arguably RR’s best value pick.
Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, and Sandeep Sharma
Jofra Archer, retained at 12.5 crore, is the spearhead. When fit, his 150 kph pace and deadly yorkers make him the most lethal T20 fast bowler around. Ravi Bishnoi, bought for 7.2 crore, brings 72 IPL wickets in 77 matches with a best of 3/24 and 64 T20I wickets at an economy of 7.41, making him one of India’s premier leg spinners.
Nandre Burger provides left arm pace with steep bounce. Sandeep Sharma completes the attack with 146 IPL wickets in 137 matches at an economy of 8.03, including a best of 5/18, making him one of the most consistent powerplay operators in IPL history.
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Impact Player Options: Donovan Ferreira and Vignesh Puthur
Donovan Ferreira, re-acquired from Delhi Capitals for 1 crore, provides explosive death overs batting and backup wicketkeeping.
Vignesh Puthur, the Kerala-born left-arm wrist spinner, made a memorable IPL debut in 2025 for Mumbai Indians with figures of 3/32 against CSK, the second-best figures for a spinner on debut.
He took six wickets in five matches during IPL 2025 before being acquired by RR for 30 lakh. On turning tracks, Puthur gives RR a handy additional spin option alongside Jadeja and Bishnoi.
