Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 Squad

About Rajasthan Royals

Captain	Riyan Parag
Coach	Kumar Sangakkara
Home Ground	Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
IPL Titles	1 (2008)
Founded	2008
Owners	Kal Somani-led US consortium (sale agreed; transfer after 2026 season, pending BCCI approval)

Rajasthan Royals are the IPL’s inaugural champions, having won the first ever edition of the tournament in 2008 under Shane Warne’s extraordinary leadership.
Based in Jaipur and playing their home games at the picturesque Sawai Mansingh Stadium – set against the Aravalli hills – the Royals have built a brand identity around identifying undervalued talent and developing it into match-winners.
Their franchise philosophy of smart recruitment over big-name signings has produced some of the IPL’s most remarkable stories.

Like CSK, RR were suspended from the IPL in 2016 and 2017, but returned to reach the final in 2022 – their best season since 2008.
Under coach Kumar Sangakkara, one of the greatest batters in cricket history, RR continue to prioritise analytical recruitment and long-term squad building over reactive spending.
In March 2026, the franchise was sold for $1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,300 crore) to a US consortium led by Arizona-based tech entrepreneur Kal Somani — an existing minor investor in the franchise — alongside Walmart heir Rob Walton and the Hamp family (Ford Motor / Firestone connections). The deal is the largest in IPL franchise history and represents a staggering return on the $67 million Manoj Badale paid for the team in 2008. Ownership transfers after the conclusion of the 2026 IPL season, pending BCCI approval.

IPL 2026 Season Preview

The biggest headline around Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 is the loss of Sanju Samson – the franchise’s captain and identity for several years – who moved to CSK as part of a high-profile trade involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran coming to RR.
Coach Kumar Sangakkara has acknowledged Samson is irreplaceable, but emphasised that rebuilding around young captain Riyan Parag is an exciting challenge.

Yashasvi Jaiswal remains one of the most dangerous openers in world cricket, while the signing of Ravindra Jadeja adds world-class all-round capability.
Sam Curran is reportedly set to miss significant portions of the campaign with a groin injury, which is a significant blow to their bowling resources.
Since burst onto the IPL scene in 2025 with a stunning century off 35 balls in just his second match, the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has done nothing but raise the ceiling of what’s possible at his age.
He will again be one of the most-watched storylines of IPL 2026.
Jofra Archer’s continued presence gives RR one of the most devastating pace options in the competition when fit.
RR are playing three home games in Guwahati rather than Jaipur, which has drawn criticism from fans and analysts alike.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: Yashasvi Jaiswal is the most naturally gifted young batter in Indian cricket and the cornerstone of RR’s batting — capable of match-winning centuries at strike rates above 160. Jofra Archer, when fit, gives RR a pace option that very few teams in the world can handle. Ravindra Jadeja’s three-dimensional contribution — miserly left-arm spin, exceptional fielding, and crucial lower-order runs — makes him one of the most valuable all-rounders in the competition. Coach Kumar Sangakkara’s analytical recruitment philosophy consistently extracts value that other franchises miss.

Weaknesses: The loss of Sanju Samson — both as a batter and as the emotional identity of the franchise for several seasons — is significant and cannot be fully replaced by any single signing. Sam Curran’s groin injury depletes RR’s bowling resources at a critical time. Playing three “home” games in Guwahati rather than the familiar Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur disrupts home advantage and has drawn justified criticism from fans and analysts.

Rajasthan Royals History

Rajasthan Royals were purchased for Rs 67 million in 2008 – one of the lowest prices among the original eight franchises.
Under Shane Warne’s electrifying leadership, they confounded expectations to win the inaugural IPL with a team of unfancied players and overseas veterans.
Yusuf Pathan, Sohail Tanvir, and Shane Watson were among the heroes, but it was Warne’s tactical brilliance and ability to get the best from each player that made the 2008 title one of the most celebrated sporting upsets in Indian cricket history.

After Warne’s departure and a period of consolidation, RR endured the two-year ban of 2016–17.
Their return under Steve Smith’s captaincy was followed by a genuine title push in 2022 under Sanju Samson, when they lost the final to Gujarat Titans.
The franchise has consistently unearthed talent before they became stars: Jofra Archer was developed at RR, as were Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal – all three debuted for England or India shortly after breaking through at Rajasthan.

Highs & Lows

Highs: Winning the inaugural IPL title in 2008 as one of the lowest-budget teams in the competition. Shane Warne’s iconic leadership. Developing Jofra Archer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag into international stars. Runner-up in 2022.

Lows: Only one IPL title despite 17 seasons of competition. Two-year suspension in 2016 and 2017. Multiple inconsistent seasons between 2009 and 2021. The loss of franchise icon Sanju Samson ahead of IPL 2026.

Key Players to Watch – IPL 2026

• Yashasvi Jaiswal – The most naturally gifted young batter in Indian cricket. Jaiswal’s combination of technique, power, and audacity makes him capable of match-winning 100+ run innings at a strike rate above 160. He is the cornerstone of RR’s batting.
• Riyan Parag – RR’s youngest-ever captain. Parag has developed from a teenage prospect into a genuine match-winner through years of IPL experience. His ability to attack spin and play big innings under pressure, combined with his off-spin bowling, makes him a complete cricketer.
• Jofra Archer – When fit, one of the most destructive pace bowlers in T20 cricket. Archer’s ability to bowl at 145+ kph and extract bounce on any surface makes him a genuine match-winner, and his batting lower down the order is a useful bonus.
• Ravindra Jadeja – India’s greatest all-round cricketer of the modern era. Jadeja’s left-arm spin is extremely miserly in the middle overs, his fielding is exceptional, and his ability to score crucial runs at 130–150 strike rate in the lower middle order makes him a three-dimensional asset.

Season by Season Record

Season	Matches	Wins	Win %	Finish
2008	14	11	78.6	Champions 🏆
2009	14	9	64.3	Group Stage
2010	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2011	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2012	16	8	50.0	Group Stage
2013	16	9	56.3	3rd
2014	14	5	35.7	Group Stage
2015	14	7	50.0	Playoffs
2016	–	–	–	Suspended
2017	–	–	–	Suspended
2018	14	7	50.0	Playoffs
2019	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2020	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2021	14	5	35.7	Group Stage
2022	16	11	68.8	Runner-up
2023	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2024	14	8	57.1	Playoffs
2025	14	7	50.0	Group Stage

Who is the Rajasthan Royals captain in IPL 2026?

Riyan Parag is the captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. Riyan Parag was named captain to signal a fresh start with young, bold leadership. Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural title.

What is the Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 squad?

Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 squad: Riyan Parag (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey. Key overseas players include Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, and Donovan Ferreira. Rajasthan Royals retained 4 players and signed Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.20 crore.

How many titles has Rajasthan Royals won in IPL?

Rajasthan Royals has won 1 IPL title: 2008. They are one of the most historic successful franchises in IPL history.

Which overseas players are in Rajasthan Royals’s IPL 2026 squad?

Rajasthan Royals overseas players in IPL 2026: Jofra Archer (England, Bowler), Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies, Batter), Donovan Ferreira (South Africa, All-rounder), Kwena Maphaka (South Africa, Bowler), up to 8 overseas players per squad with max 4 in playing XI.