RR IPL 2026 auction plan: Prime targets and likely top buys for next season

Kaushik Kashyap

RR team in action in IPL 2025 [Source: AFP]RR team in action in IPL 2025 [Source: AFP]

With the IPL 2026 mini auction set for December 16, Rajasthan Royals are preparing to regroup and strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. After missing out on the playoffs last season, RR will focus on improving balance and depth, targeting smart buys to return stronger in 2026.

As Rajasthan Royals prepare for the IPL 2026 season, here we analyse their squad requirements and predict the potential targets they could pursue at the upcoming mini auction.

RR retention list for IPL 2026

Batters
Allrounders
Bowlers
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Ravindra Jadeja
Jofra Archer✈️
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Sam Curran✈️Kwena Maphaka✈️
Riyan Parag
Nandre Burger✈️
Dhruv Jurel (WK)
Sandeep Sharma
Shimron Hetmyer✈️
Tushar Deshpande
Donovan Ferreira (WK)✈️
Yudhvir Singh Charak
Lhuan-Dre Pretorius✈️
Shubham Dubey

Role distribution of RR's retained players

  • Top order batters - Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius
  • Middle order batters - Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Sam Curran
  • Lower middle order batter - Shubham Dubey
  • Pacers - Yudhvir Charak Singh, Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande
  • Spinners - NA

RR IPL 2026 auction budget and overseas slots

Rajasthan Royals have a budget of INR 16.05 crores heading to the IPL mini auction. They have nine slots, including one overseas, to fill in the marquee event.

RR IPL 2026 squad: What are the gaps to fill?

How RR's expected playing XI looks like

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja, Shimron Hetmyer, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, TBD.  

Impact Player - Donovan Ferreira 

TBD- vacant slots to be filled in IPL 2026 mini auction

  • Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set to open, with Dhruv Jurel expected to move to number three after Sanju Samson's departure.
  • Riyan Parag, who has 856 runs at 157 SR at number 4 in last two IPLs, should bat at four, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, acting as an anchor the middle.
  • Shimron Hetmyer adds finishing power alongside Sam Curran. Impact player Donovan Ferreira can come in if needed, who has a SR of 191.75 batting in the middle-order in 2025.
  • Jofra Archer leads the pace unit, supported by Sandeep Sharma and Tushar Deshpande, giving the XI pace, control, and depth.

Areas to address for RR in IPL mini auction

Indian wicket-taking spin options

  • RR’s spin attack struggled to take wickets last season, highlighting the need for a strike-taking leg-spinner.
  • A reliable Indian leg-spinner, along with backup options, is essential to strengthen the middle overs.
Criterion
Data
Wickets27
Average 38.11
RPO9.27

Table - RR spinners' performance in IPL 2025.

Indian wicketkeeper (Backup)

Indian top-order (Backup)

  • Sanju Samson’s departure leaves a big gap in RR’s top three, creating a need for a reliable Indian backup.
  • A dependable top-order Indian ensures flexibility without compromising the four-best overseas combination.

Pacers (Backup)

  • One overseas slot can be used for a pacer to cover for Jofra Archer, who has a history of injuries and occasional unavailability.
  • RR should also consider an Indian pacer as backup to strengthen the pace attack.

RR IPL 2026 auction prime targets: Whom the Royals are likely to go after?

Ravi Bishnoi

  • The hottest Indian capped leg-spinners in the market, Bishnoi can provide RR with a reliable wicket-taking option in the middle-overs.
  • In IPL, Bishnoi has taken 72 wickets at 8.21 RPO.

Yash Raj Punja

  • A genuine leg-spinner who has previously trained with RR as a net bowler, Yash Raj Punja impressed in Karnataka’s Maharaja Trophy with consistent performances.
  • In the league, he took 23 wickets at an average of 12.48.

Mukul Chaudhary

  • A 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, Mukul Chaudhary impressed in the U23 Men’s State A Trophy with consistent performances.
  • In SMAT 2025, he has been scoring with a strike-rate of 201.69 as a middle-order finisher, making him a strong backup Indian WK option.

Kyle Jamieson

  • RR are likely to target Jamieson as a replacement for Jofra Archer, adding a tall pace bowler to cover potential injuries and strengthen the pace attack.
  • His IPL stats - 14 wickets at 29.71 average.

Jason Holder

  • RR could target Jason Holder as a like-for-like all-rounder replacement for Sam Curran, bringing experience with both bat and ball to balance the middle-order and the bowling attack.
  • Jason Holder is striking at 154.10 strike-rate in T20s this year for both country and in franchise leagues. 

Ashok Sharma

  • RR are likely to target Ashok Sharma, a former Royals pacer who is consistently clocking 150 kmph and has impressed in the ongoing SMAT.
  • In 2025, he was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets at 14.80, making him a strong pace option to have.

Prithvi Shaw

  • RR are likely to target Prithvi Shaw as a top-order buy, perfectly suiting their aggressive batting template and providing firepower at the top.
  • In SMAT 2025, he scored 183 runs, including two fifties, at a strike rate of 160.52.

Other potential targets for RR

Krains Fuletra, Shubham Rana, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Shivam Mavi, Salil Arora (try to get at low price), Kartik Sharma (try to get at low price), Aman Rao, RS Ambrish and Kumar Kartikeya