Last Updated on 3 weeks ago by Charbel Coorey

Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be seeking a return to playoffs in IPL 2026 after missing the top four in 2025. They finished ninth in a disappointing season, and have lost the in-form Sanju Samson to CSK.

However, the emergence of young talent gives RR fans hope for the new campaign. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up IPL 2025 with a stunning 38-ball 101 that had to be seen to be believed. With Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Shimron Hetmyer to follow a strong top three, RR have the potential to hit plenty of big totals this season.

RR possible 11 for IPL 2026: Who will be the overseas players?

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (OS), 4. Riyan Parag (c), 5. Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6. Shimron Hetmyer (OS), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dasun Shanaka/Donovan Ferreira/Nandre Burger (OS), 9. Jofra Archer (OS), 10. Ravi Bishnoi, 11. Tushar Deshpande/Kuldeep Sen, 12 Sandeep Sharma.

Riyan Parag will captain the team. Ravindra Jadeja provides all-round stability in the middle order. He and Ravi Bishnoi can form a strong spin duo throughout IPL 2026.

The key questions for RR are what Tushar Deshpande and Sandeep Sharma can deliver, plus whether Jofra Archer can stay fit for the season. Archer and Sandeep could be the key death-over options at different stages throughout the campaign, depending on who else RR pick for their bowling attack.

Also, assuming Archer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Shimron Hetmyer occupy three overseas slots, who should be the fourth? RR have the choice of all-rounders Dasun Shanaka (in for Sam Curran) and Donovan Ferreira, or go for a specialist fast bowler in Adam Milne, Nandre Burger or Kwena Maphaka.

RR kick off their season against Samson’s CSK at Guwahati on Monday March 30. In fact, the franchise will be their first three games at Barsapara Stadium before moving to Jaipur. It is a circumstance that R Ashwin sees as an issue.

“I thought their team got a slight upgrade when they got both Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. But they have a lot of things going for them, as well as not going for them. They have not been playing at one venue, and that is just not fair. I know Riyan Parag is the captain, and he will get Support in Assam, I understand all that, but if you want to play, play the entire season there only,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by India TV News.

“I was the Kings XI Punjab (now renamed as Punjab Kings) captain when we had to play a few matches in Indore, and that is a huge factor, I know there is gate collection, and fan support. RR have a lovely brand and an an eco system, it is close to my heart because I enjoyed that team environment,” he added.

RR will then travel to Ahmedabad to take on Gujarat Titans on Saturday April 4.