Strongest RR playing XI for IPL 2026

The first-ever champions in IPL history, the Rajasthan Royals, would have hardly imagined that they would have to wait a long time for their second trophy. Having won the IPL title in 2008, RR is still awaiting their second title. This time around, the team management has made some major changes, and the reins of the team have been handed over to Riyan Parag.

Apart from India’s spinner Ravi Bishnoi (7.5 crores) and New Zealand’s pacer Adam Milne (2.40 crores), RR included mostly uncapped players in their team in the auction. However, RR traded star all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for former RR skipper, Sanju Samson, just before the IPL auction, adding two big players to their squad for this season. After Sanju Samson joined CSK, the team's leadership was handed over to Riyan Parag. However, Sam Curran was ruled out ahead of the tournament due to injury, and instead of him, Dasun Shanaka has been included in the squad as his replacement. 

RR appears to have a balanced squad on paper. The team's batting line-up includes batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, and Donovan Ferreira. The team also has international all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Dasun Shanaka. The team has around 13 bowlers in its squad, which includes bowlers like Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Mphaka, Sandeep Sharma, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne, and Kuldeep Sen.

For RR, Yashasvi Jaiswal and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will feature in the opening slot. Captain Riyan Parag himself could bat at No. 3. Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dhruv Jurel will bat in the middle-order. Dasun Shanaka and Donovan Ferreira will be responsible for finishing. 

In the bowling department, the pace-gun, Jofra Archer, could lead the attack along with Tushar Despande and death over specialist Sandeep Sharma. Ravi Bishnoi will be the frontline spinner, while Ravindra Jadeja will assist him. Skipper Riyan Parag and Dasun Shanaka could also bowl. 

As per the IPL 2026 first phase schedule, Rajasthan Royals will start their campaign against Chennai Super Kings on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, which is also RR’s home ground. Following this, they will take the field against the Gujarat Titans on April 4 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Then, RR will return to their home ground to face the Mumbai Indians on April 7 and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10.

Strongest RR playing XI

Yashasvi Jaiswal
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Riyan Parag ©
Shimron Hetmyer (✈)
Dhruv Jurel (wk)
Ravindra Jadeja
Dasun Shanaka (✈)
Donovan Ferreira  (✈)
Jofra Archer  (✈)
Sandeep Sharma
Ravi Bishnoi
Tushar Deshpande — Impact player