Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals, one of the original IPL franchises founded in 2008, won the inaugural IPL title that year under Shane Warne's leadership and reached the final again in 2022, establishing themselves as a resilient, youth-focused team known for nurturing Indian talent. In IPL 2025, they finished fourth, securing a playoff spot with consistent middle-order firepower and Jofra Archer's pace resurgence, though they exited in the eliminator due to batting collapses against top sides.

Ahead of IPL 2026, RR retained explosive opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, finisher Shimron Hetmyer, rising star Riyan Parag, wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, and strike bowler Jofra Archer, forming a solid core of youth and experience. They released captain Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Akash Madhwal to revamp the squad. Strengths include a dynamic top order and Archer's raw pace, but weaknesses lie in leadership vacuum, lack of a reliable finisher beyond Hetmyer, and spin depth post-Hasranga.

With a substantial auction purse of ₹110 Cr, RR should target Quinton de Kock for stable opening alongside Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi to bolster spin attack, and Cameron Green for allround balance and middle-order power, addressing key gaps effectively.