We can sense there was something wrong in the Rajasthan Royals‘ strategy when they let go of their key players, Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, and Yuzvendra Chahal; instead, they preferred young guns, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and skipper Sanju Samson. All their ideas behind the bars couldn’t succeed for the Rahul Dravid-coached side, which finished second from the bottom of the standings in IPL 2025.
2025 RR Best Players：Top Picks for 2026 Squad Retention
Holding the underachievers tag for most of the last decade, the inaugural champions kind of reinvented themselves in the previous 3 seasons with 2 playoff finishes. With the side failing to make the top 4, management will have to make a clear decision on retaining their players. Who makes the 2026 RR retained list? We have explained in detail in this article. Here are the 2025 RR best players. The list is filled with batters who took the centre stage at different phases of the league.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal – Mr Consistent
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, took shelter in Mumbai and went on to represent the city in domestic cricket across all formats. But the young lad caught the attention of the Rajasthan Royals scouts, who saw his worth as a long-term prospect and went on to purchase him for a sum of Rs 2.4 crore in the auction. Jaiswal, who was only 18 back then, featured in only 3 matches, managing 40 runs.
All. For. Rajasthan. 🔥💗 pic.twitter.com/v3tVv7BeMS
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 29, 2025
The southpaw got to the limelight in the next season, where he made 249 runs across 10 matches. He registered almost similar performances in the 2022 season, making 258 runs as the side reached its only second final. At 21 years before making his Test debut, he had a splendid IPL for the franchise in 2023, amassing 625 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.07. He almost replicated an identical performance in 2024, racking up 435 runs at a strike rate of 155.91.
6/0 even before the scorecard appears. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ruxDGz6kDp
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 26, 2025
Jaiswal showcased why he has been rated highly with another remarkable season in 2025, where he gathered 559 runs in 14 matches, his second-best ever IPL season. He smashed 6 half-centuries, the joint 2nd most in the IPL 2025. Without any complications and discussions, he will enter the 2026 RR retained list. Among the 2025 RR best players, Yashasvi Jaiswal will be in the top spot.
2. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – Young batting sensation
Rajasthan Royals holds a rich legacy of developing young talents into match-winners and has given many stars for Indian cricket, including Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, etc. They went beyond their limits to acquire the services of wonder kid, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, for Rs 1.1 crore, who was just 13 at the time of auction.
Vaibhav vs Archer. Where else if not the IPL?! 💗 pic.twitter.com/pHtA0qpuN5
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 12, 2025
He was 14 when he made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants, and announced himself with a six over covers. His maiden IPL innings ended at the score of 34. Then Suryavanshi entered the record books for hitting the 2nd fastest century in the IPL in just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. He was also the youngest player to smash a century in the cash-rich league.
A dreamy first season on the big stage 🔥👏
So so proud of you, Vaibhav 💗 pic.twitter.com/JvZi2j6XeS
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) June 3, 2025
Including one century and a half-century, he ended the IPL 2025, collecting overall 252 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of 206.55. Analysing all his performances, he has been regarded as one of the 2025 RR best players. Following his jaw-dropping performances, he completely deserves to be on the 2026 RR retained list.
3. Riyan Parag – The Swagger
Rajasthan Royals has a close connection with Assam-born cricketer Riyan Parag, who has been with the franchise since 2019. Developing an ordinary player into an International cricketer, the role of the Royals should be praised. He has the backing of the management despite setbacks at the start. One skill that made him famous was his fielding; he was electrifying in the outfield and has taken some stunners.
Keeping us alive in this chase 🤞💗 pic.twitter.com/UUGYcHlXWD
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 4, 2025
When he got into the side, he wasn’t straight away moved up in the batting order; instead, he took years to break into the top 4. After a lacklustre 5 seasons, his moment has arrived in 2024, where he smashed 573 runs in 14 innings at an average of 52.09. He followed that up by scoring 393 runs in 14 matches in 2025. His numbers in the IPL aren’t that big, but his attitude towards the game is truly special and intimidating. As an academy Player, no way that the franchise will let him go and is an automatic choice on the 2026 RR retained list, and without any question, is one of the 2025 RR best players.
4. Dhruv Jurel – Finisher in the making
Dhruv Jurel is another young product of the Rajasthan Royals, who went on to represent India in Tests and T20Is. He resembles legendary MS Dhoni in many ways. Like Dhoni, Jurel has fast hands behind the stumps and has also developed the art of finishing the game in front of the wicket. He is still under work in progress and has to evolve in many aspects to become a regular starter on the National side.
56 out of his 70 in boundaries. Fought, Dhruv 🫡🔥 pic.twitter.com/jr36uKTL1s
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 23, 2025
He made his IPL debut in 2023 and showed gradual signs of improvement year after year. After making 152 and 195 runs in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively, he required an elevation to stamp his authority, and he did well in 2025, adding 333 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 156.33. Being the 3rd leading run-scorer of the side, he was one of the 2025 RR best players, and obviously, his name will surely be on the 2026 RR retained list.
Conclusion
All four players discussed above haven’t featured for any other franchise apart from the Rajasthan Royals. It symbolises, the franchise is shaping them well and building the team for the future. All 4 cricketers are 2025 RR best players, and without any doubt, they will be likely in the 2026 RR retained list.
