Rajasthan Royals (RR) announced their list of retained and released players on Sunday, November 16. The 2026 RR retention list has certainly signalled that the franchise will look to invest its purse to acquire players in the spin and all-rounder departments in the mini-auction. The major talking point was the trade of skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who led the side from 2021 to 2025, while taking them to the playoffs in the 2022 and 2024 seasons. Moreover, Kumar Sangakkara has returned as the head coach of the franchise. Let’s delve deep into the players retained by the Royals and whether the decisions by the team management make sense as they head into the auction.

2026 RR Retention List Overview

After trading Sanju Samson to CSK, RR secured the services of star all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Both players can turn the tables with their performances in both departments. The core trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag will again play an important role in setting up big scores or chasing down stiff totals due to their track record and experience in handling difficult situations. One of them could be announced as the captain due to knowledge of the team environment and mindset.

Retained and RReady to Halla Bol in 2026. 🔥💗 pic.twitter.com/0una5DXdYk

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 15, 2025

The young prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, has also made it to the 2026 RR retention list based on his blockbuster performance in the last edition. Moreover, he has been in superlative form for the Indian U19 as well as the India A teams. Although Shimron Hetmyer and Jofra Archer had a disappointing season, RR have trusted their abilities for another season.

Goodbyes are never easy and this one’s no different. Thank you for everything you’ve given us, and for the unforgettable chapters you added to our Pink story 💗 pic.twitter.com/0jZMtb5G4Z

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 15, 2025

The Royals parted ways with the Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who proved to be ineffective last season. Apart from his 81-run knock, Nitish Rana was inconsistent in the last season and was traded to the Delhi Capitals.

2026 RR Retained Players List: Ravindra Jadeja (from Chennai Super Kings), Sam Curran (from Chennai Super Kings), Donovan Ferreira (from Delhi Capitals), Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger.

2026 RR Released Players List: Sanju Samson (traded to Chennai Super Kings), Nitish Rana (traded to Delhi Capitals), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kunal Singh Rathore, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, and Ashok Sharma.

RR’s Surprising Release

The experienced Sri Lankan spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, was expected to be one of the key wicket-takers in the IPL 2025 for the Royals. However, he failed to put the brakes on the opposition batters, picking 11 wickets in as many appearances at an economy of 9.04. But the Royals could have trusted Hasaranga for another year, due to his track record in the shortest format.

Surprising Retentions for RR

Tushar Deshpande

Tushar Deshpande had his worst-ever season in 2025, where he could secure only nine wickets in 10 games at an expensive economy of 10.62. His lengths were predictable, and he was taken to cleaners by the majority of the batters. Deshpande’s current domestic form has also been average, but he finds a place among the 2026 RR retained players.

Shubham Dubey

The left-hander has not justified the trust bestowed by the Royals’ management in the last two seasons. With 139 runs in 11 innings at an average of 23.16, Shubham Dubey has not contributed to the team in crunch situations. It will be interesting to see whether Dubey could see a major change in his luck and performances in the 2026 edition.

3 Players RR Can Target in IPL 2026 Auction

After the announcement of the 2026 RR retention list, the franchise is left with INR 16.05 crore to fill nine vacant spots in the mini-auction.

#1 Ravi Bishnoi

Former ICC No. 1 T20I spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, was sidelined from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) setup ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. It was due to his mediocre performance, where he picked nine wickets in 11 games. However, Bishnoi could be a perfect replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga/ Maheesh Theekshana in the RR roster. He can be a game-changer for the Royals due to his experience of playing in the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the domestic circuit.

#2 Quinton de Kock

One of the most consistent batters in the IPL, Quinton de Kock, had a dull season in 2025. The southpaw scored only 152 runs in eight innings, with a top score of 97*. As a result, he was released from the Kolkata Knight Riders side. But, with over 3,000 runs in the cash-rich league and impressive form in the international circuit, De Kock could be on the list of many franchises. With the departure of Sanju Samson, RR would also look to find an experienced keeper, and he would perfectly suit the bill.

#3 David Miller

South Africa’s David Miller was released from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after he garnered 153 runs at an average of 30.60 in the 2025 edition. However, Miller could find significant interest from other franchises in the auction, who need a reliable middle-order batter and an experienced finisher.

Conclusion

The current 2026 RR retained players don’t have the presence of many finishers apart from Shimron Hetmyer. With enough money in the bank, the Royals could bring Miller back into their setup, as he played for them in the 2020-21 season. During the mini-auction, they will look to fill the gaps in the spin department and acquire keepers and finishers.