IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals - Know Your Players

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals - Know Your Players

Rajasthan Royals (RR) prioritized strengthening their bowling unit at the 2026 IPL auction, spending ₹13.59 crore to complete their full 25-player squad. Their key signings included leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.20 crore and pacer Adam Milne for ₹2.40 crore, along with the return of Kuldeep Sen.

While the additions have improved squad depth, there are concerns around their heavy reliance on an expensive, largely Indian top order and the absence of a proven all-rounder following the departure of key players, making their strategy a potential gamble.

AMAN RAO PERALA

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Aman Rao Perala was raised in Hyderabad, where he embraced India’s cricketing culture. The 21-year-old is an aggressive right-handed opening batter, known for maximizing impact in the power-play.

He made headlines in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy with a stunning unbeaten 200 off 154 balls against a strong Bengal attack, becoming the first Hyderabad batter to score a List-A double century. Earlier, in the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he showcased his explosive intent, most notably smashing Shardul Thakur for 24 runs in an over and finished the tournament with 234 runs at a strike-rate of over 160.

Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹30 lakh ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

SUSHANT MISHRA

Left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra has quickly risen as one of the exciting talents to watch in IPL 2026. Hailing from Ranchi, the 25-year-old first grabbed attention during India’s triumphant 2020 U19 World Cup campaign, where he picked up seven wickets at an average of 19.85.

His progression into senior cricket has been equally impressive. After making his first-class debut in early 2022, he claimed 20 wickets in his first seven matches. More recently, he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, leading Jharkhand to their maiden title with 22 wickets in 11 matches.

Initially listed at a base price of ₹20 lakh, Sushant earned a ₹2.2 crore deal with Gujarat Titans at the 2024 auction. He has since moved to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026, where he was signed for ₹90 lakh.

YASH RAJ PUNJA

After being signed by Rajasthan Royals for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction, 19-year-old leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja has a chance to make history by becoming the first player from the UAE to feature in an IPL playing XI. The tall spinner has impressed with his high release point, sharp googly, and ability to extract extra bounce while turning the ball at pace.

Now part of a varied spin attack alongside Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja, the young “mystery” spinner could play a key role in the middle overs. As he begins his journey with RR, Punja will aim to convert his domestic success into impactful, match-winning performances in IPL 2026.

Rajasthan have a strong batting order and their bowling has fired in the first two games. They've won two on the bounce, can they do this on a consistent basis? The bigger question - Can RR lift the IPL? Comment and let us know what you think of the Rajasthan Royals squad.