Rajasthan Royals team management at Tata IPL Auction. Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL Photo
The Rajasthan Royals entered the IPL 2026 auction with a solid purse after keeping a strong core and making daring trades. They let go of a number of seasoned players to revamp their team and utilized the auction to acquire fresh talent emphasizing spin strength, all-rounder depth and youthful energy. With a 25-member squad now assembled, RR appears well-balanced and prepared to showcase an exciting style of cricket. However, concerns remain regarding their pace attack and the shift in leadership.
Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL Photo
Auction Overview
| Category | Details |
| Auction Date | 16 December 2025 (Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi) |
| Total Purse (₹) | 125 crore |
| Amount Spent (₹) | 122.35 crore |
| Amount Remaining (₹) | 2.65 crore |
| RTM Remaining | 0 (no Right-to-Match cards left) |
| Total Players in Squad | 25 (full squad) |
| Overseas Players | 8 (maximum allowed) |
| Biggest Buy | Ravi Bishnoi – ₹7.2 crore (Leg Spinner, India) |
Rajasthan Royals made a huge investment at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi using almost their entire budget of ₹125 crore. They created a squad of 25 players including 8 from overseas. The standout signing was Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.2 crore. Along with important new players like Adam Milne and Sushant Mishra, this indicates a strong emphasis on boosting their bowling lineup.
Players Bought at Auction: IPL 2026
| Player | Role | Base Price (₹) | Final Bid (₹) |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler | 2 crore | 7.2 crore |
| Sushant Mishra | Bowler | 30 lakh | 90 lakh |
| Yash Raj Punja | Bowler | 30 lakh | 30 lakh |
| Vignesh Puthur | Bowler | 30 lakh | 30 lakh |
| Ravi Singh | Batter | 30 lakh | 95 lakh |
| Aman Rao Perala | Batter | 30 lakh | 30 lakh |
| Brijesh Sharma | Bowler | 30 lakh | 30 lakh |
| Adam Milne | Bowler | 2 crore | 2.4 crore |
| Kuldeep Sen | Bowler | 75 lakh | 75 lakh |
At the IPL 2026 auction, Rajasthan Royals biggest signing was leg‑spinner Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.4 crore while Adam Milne filled the last overseas slot. The team also added Kuldeep Sen and several young Indian players to balance experience with future talent.
Players Retained Before Auction: IPL 2026
| Player | Role | Salary (₹) |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicket-keeper | 14 crore |
| Jofra Archer (Overseas) | Bowler | 12.5 crore |
| Kwena Maphaka (Overseas) | Bowler | 1.5 crore |
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Overseas) | Batter | 30 lakh |
| Nandre Burger (Overseas) | Bowler | 3.5 crore |
| Riyan Parag | All-rounder | 14 crore |
| Sandeep Sharma | Bowler | 4 crore |
| Shimron Hetmyer (Overseas) | Batter | 11 crore |
| Shubham Dubey | Batter | 80 lakh |
| Tushar Deshpande | Bowler | 6.5 crore |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Batter | 1.1 crore |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter | 18 crore |
| Yudhvir Singh | All-rounder | 35 lakh |
Before the IPL 2026 auction, the Rajasthan Royals decided to retained 13 players which includes big names like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Jofra Archer. They also retained pace bowlers Sandeep Sharma and Tushar Deshpande as well as young talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The team’s foundation features a blend of established players and emerging stars.
Players Traded In Auction: IPL 2026
| Player | Role | From Team | Salary (₹) |
| Donovan Ferreira (Overseas) | Batter | Trade (SA domestic) | 1 crore |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | Chennai Super Kings | 14 crore |
| Sam Curran | All-rounder | Chennai Super Kings | 2.4 crore |
Besides auction buys and retentions, Rajasthan Royals also brought in three players via trades. The notable additions of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran from Chennai Super Kings along with Donovan Ferreira have strengthened the team’s depth.
