Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Rajasthan Royals had a year to forget in IPL 2025 as they kept losing close matches and eventually ended in the bottom half. They let go off their captain Sanju Samson and have traded him with Jadeja and Sam Curran. After retaining 16 players, which includes 7 overseas stars, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, inaugural edition winners Rajasthan Royals will enter the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi with a purse of Rs 16.05 crore. The Jaipur-based team will look to sign an overseas pacer as backup for Jofra Archer and a finisher in addition to a spin bowler. Here we look at 3 players who will be their target in the upcoming IPL MINI Auction.
1.Shai Hope
With the release of Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals have to fill in an experienced middle order batter and one choice will be the West Indies T20I captain has played nine matches in the IPL for DC and scored 183 runs with a strike rate of 150. Shai Hope has improved a lot in this format and can also provide wicket-keeping option for them.
2. Auqib Nabi
Rajasthan Royals lacked a proper Indian new bowler last year and that is one area which they will try and fix. Auqib Nabi is yet to make his IPL debut but has picked up 40 wickets in 33 T20 matches played so far and has impressed everyone in the domestic circuit playing for J&K. He could be a good option for them to pair up with Jofra Archer.
3. Ashok Sharma
Ashok Sharma has been with RR in the past before they released him and they may try to get him back after he topped the charts in the league phase of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 17 wickets in just 7 matches. The Rajasthan pacer has shown great promise in SMAT and he can also be handy with the bat lower down the order for power hitting. He can solve a few issues if he is picked in the RR side for the upcoming cycle.
