RR retention list 2026: Unwanted players IPL franchise might not retain for next season

Players RR could release [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is still a few months away but all ten sides have already started to devise strategise to better their team for the upcoming season, and the journey starts with retaining their top stars before the retention deadline day. Before the mini auction in December, teams will be allowed to release the unwanted players from the squad.

While the likes of RCB, CSK, and MI will always be in the news due to their popularity, quietly, the buzz has also increased regarding the Rajasthan Royals' transfer business, as the team has been in the news for quite some time now. They need an overhaul after last season’s disaster and here are the players RR should release before the start of next season. 

1) Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson is the only player in the list who won’t be released due to performance reasons, but RR might be willing to release him due to the extensive negative news surrounding his future IPL move to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Earlier, there were reports that Samson might be traded to CSK, and he is interested in the move.

However, there has been no significant development regarding his transfer, but RR might not be interested in keeping a player who wants a move away from the team. Samson was reportedly upset with the RR team management, and even he might be tempted to try his luck somewhere else.

2) Shimron Hetmyer

The West Indian batter, Shimron Hetmyer played as a finisher for the Royals, and surprisingly, he failed to deliver the goods. The stats might tell that he had a decent strike rate, but behind the numbers lie a shocking fact.

(Hetmyer in IPL 2025)

• The stats tell that he struck at 145, but in most of the matches, Hetmyer’s finishing abilities were questioned as he failed to help RR cross the finishing lines on numerous occasions.
• In most of the IPL 2025 games, Hetmyer got the starts, but whenever it mattered the most, he failed and hence, RR could cash in on him. RR gave Hetmyer 11 crore for the 2025 season, and by releasing him, they could free up the money to buy a better finisher.

3) Wanindu Hasaranga

For some reason, the RR management decided to splash out 5.25 crore in the mega auction, and the move failed to deliver as the spin-bowling all-rounder was taken apart in the 2025 season, and the numbers tell the entire story.

(Hasaranga in IPL 2025)

• For someone who was the leading spin-bowler of the team, Wanindu Hasaranga was decent with the ball, grabbing 11 wickets in 11 matches. However, disaster struck with the bat as the all-rounder, who often batted in top six, scored only 9 runs in 11 matches.
• RR needs a quality spinner in their ranks, and by getting back 5.25 crore after releasing him, the franchise could invest in a wicket-taking spinner.

4) Maheesh Theekshana

Hasaranga’s Sri Lankan teammate, Maheesh Theekshana, also joins the list. In T20Is, there is no room for a defensive bowler, and Theekshana doesn’t have the wicket-taking, aggressive approach. He is known more for his ability to curb the scoring rate, rather than taking wickets.

(Theekshana in IPL 2025)

• In 11 matches, Theekshana bagged 11 wickets with an economy rate of almost 10 runs per over. Before Theekshana, RR had Yuzvendra Chahal, who was known to take wickets, but now the squad has two bowlers who combined took 22 wickets, but also conceded plenty of runs.
• RR could look for a better wicket-taking spinner if the franchise decides to part ways with the Sri Lankan spinner.

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