RAJASTHAN ROYALS IPL 2026: The New Era Begins – Complete Squad & Betting Guide

The Rajasthan Royals just made one of the biggest decisions in franchise history. After years of leading the team, Sanju Samson has been traded to Chennai Super Kings. This isn’t just a player swap—it’s the end of an era and the beginning of something fresh, exciting, and unpredictable for RR fans.

Here’s what makes IPL 2026 special for Rajasthan Royals: they’ve rebuilt intelligently. Instead of massive spending sprees, RR executed a masterclass in auction strategy, bringing in legendary all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (₹14 crore), versatile English star Sam Curran, and young spinner sensation Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.20 crore—a “steal deal” that shocked the cricket world).​

The question on every fan’s mind: Can Rajasthan Royals challenge for the IPL 2026 title? And more importantly for bettors—who should you back on Lotus365 when RR plays?

In this complete guide, you’ll discover RR’s full squad, playing 11, betting strategies, and exactly how to make smart predictions for every match. By the end, you’ll understand why experienced bettors are eyeing Rajasthan Royals as dark horses for the tournament.

The Big Change: Rajasthan Royals Trades That Shocked Cricket

Major Trades for IPL 2026:

• OUT – Sanju Samson (long-time captain, traded to CSK): The face of the franchise is gone. While tough for loyalists, this creates an opportunity for fresh leadership and new energy.
• IN – Ravindra Jadeja (From CSK, ₹14 crore): The legendary all-rounder joined after actively requesting a trade. Jadeja is one of IPL’s greatest players—a champion with CSK, brilliant with bat and ball, and carries championship DNA that RR desperately needed. This is massive for squad balance.​
• IN – Sam Curran (₹3 crore): Young, explosive English all-rounder. What makes Curran special is his flexibility—he can bat anywhere (positions 3-7) and bowl crucial overs. This adaptability wins IPL matches.​
• IN – Donovan Ferreira (From Delhi Capitals): South African all-rounder, specialist finisher with a 167 strike rate in T20—perfect for death overs.

Released: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lankan spinners, replaced by Ravi Bishnoi), and Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghan pacer).

Why This Matters for Betting: When a team executes smart trades like RR did—adding experience (Jadeja) and flexibility (Curran) while removing inconsistent performers—they signal confidence. Teams that improve squad composition tend to perform better, giving you better odds when betting on RR match winners.

RR’s Opening Partnership: The Best Indian Openers in IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals has arguably the strongest Indian opening pair in the entire IPL.​

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal – The Consistent Run-Machine

Age: 24 | Role: Opening Batter | Price: ₹18 crore

Yashasvi is IPL’s most reliable opener right now. In IPL 2025, he scored 559 runs with six half-centuries, consistently delivering 40+ runs per match. He’s not just an IPL player—he’s representing India in Test and ODI cricket, proving his technique works at the international level.​

Key Numbers: 559 runs in IPL 2025 | Six half-centuries | Average: ~56 runs per match

For Bettors: When Jaiswal opens, betting on “RR powerplay OVER 70 runs” is a smart play. His average powerplay score hovers around 70-80 runs. That’s steady, reliable, and highly profitable for session betting on Lotus365.

2. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – The 14-Year-Old Sensation

Age: 14 (!) | Role: Opening Batter | Strike Rate: 206.55 (EXPLOSIVE!)

This kid went viral. In his first IPL stint (7 matches), he smashed 252 runs at an absolutely insane strike rate of 206.55. Think about that—he’s hitting at nearly double the runs per ball compared to normal batters. At 14 years old.​

What Makes Him Special: Suryavanshi isn’t a “one-season wonder”. He comes from a strong cricketing background, is coached exceptionally well, and has the temperament to play aggressive cricket without panicking. This is the future of Indian batting.

Key Numbers: 252 runs in 7 matches | 206.55 strike rate | Age: 14

For Bettors: Suryavanshi’s early-season form is explosive but unpredictable. Betting on “Most Sixes in Powerplay” when he opens gets you 3.00-4.00 odds but comes with risk. Better play: “RR Powerplay runs” as a team bet rather than individual bets.​

RR’s Middle Order: Experience Meets Youth

3. Riyan Parag – Likely Captain (Position 3)

Role: Middle-order Batter | Price: ₹14 crore | IPL 2025: 393 runs, 3 wickets

Riyan captained RR in IPL 2025 and will likely continue as captain in 2026 (unless Jadeja is given the role). He’s aggressive, young, and carries leadership responsibility. The question: Will the pressure of captaincy affect his batting form?

His form was decent but not outstanding in 2025. As captain, expect pressure. As a batter, he’s best at position 3, anchoring the innings after the explosive openers.​

For Bettors: Riyan’s form is inconsistent. Avoid betting heavily on his individual performance bets unless he has strong form going into a match. Instead, focus on RR team performance bets where his captaincy impacts overall team play more than individual contribution.

4. Dhruv Jurel – The ₹18 Crore Pressure Play

Age: 24 | Role: Wicket-Keeper Batter | Price: ₹18 crore | Last Season: 333 runs, 37 average, 156 SR

Dhruv is under massive pressure. RR paid ₹18 crore for him, making him one of their most expensive players. Last season, he scored 333 runs at a 37 average with a 156 strike rate—respectable, but not outstanding given the price tag.​

The Opportunity: Dhruv has played Test and ODI for India. This gives him mental toughness and international-level experience. Position 4 in the batting order is crucial—he needs to deliver 400-500 runs this season to justify his investment.​

For Bettors: Dhruv’s underperformance odds are lower than they should be. If you believe in a Dhruv bounce-back season, betting on “Dhruv Jurel OVER 35 runs” at 1.85-2.00 odds might offer genuine value.

5-6. Ravindra Jadeja & Donovan Ferreira – The All-Rounder Duo

Ravindra Jadeja (₹14 crore): The legend. Jadeja is the spine of RR’s middle order. He’ll anchor the innings (position 5-6), provide bowling options, and bring championship mentality to a young squad. Expect stability and consistency from him.​

Donovan Ferreira (₹1 crore): Specialist finisher with a 167 strike rate. Ferreira is your death-overs batter—aggressive in powerplay, then finishes the innings with explosive hitting.

Quick Profile: Average 28 in T20 | Strike Rate: 167 | Role: Flexible middle-order/finisher

For Bettors: Jadeja’s presence means RR’s middle order is stable and predictable. Bet on “RR total OVER 160” when Jadeja plays—his contribution stabilises the team total, pushing it higher than usual.

7. Shimron Hetmyer – Caribbean Explosive Power

Age: 28 | Role: Batter/Finisher | Price: ₹9 crore

Shimron had a rough IPL 2025. He didn’t perform consistently, which is why he’s under criticism. But here’s the thing: West Indian players bring a tournament mentality that’s hard to teach. When they click, they hit massive sixes and change match momentum.​

For Bettors: Avoid individual performance bets on Hetmyer. Instead, bet on team totals when he’s in the lineup. His presence usually means the team has late-order hitting power, pushing totals higher by 10-15 runs.

RR’s Flexible All-Rounders: The Adaptability Factor

8. Sam Curran – The Floater Position

Age: 27 | Role: All-rounder | Price: ₹3 crore

Sam Curran is like a chess piece that moves anywhere. RR will use him flexibly based on the match situation:

• If RR needs aggressive batting, he bats at position 3-4
• If RR needs batting later, he comes in at 6-7
• If RR needs bowling: He bowls crucial death overs with left-arm pace

Why? Because Curran bowls left-arm pace, and left-armers are rare and valuable in T20. He can target left-handers, bowl powerplay overs, and bat aggressively—all in one match.​

For Bettors: When playing on large grounds (Jaipur’s MCA stadium is large, and Bangalore is large), Sam Curran contributes more with both bat and ball. Bet on “Sam Curran 2+ wickets” at good odds on large-ground matches—he’ll likely get more bowling opportunities.

RR’s Bowling Attack: Spin-Pace Balance Done Right

Fast Bowlers – The Pace Variety

Jofra Archer (England, ₹4 crore): The star of RR’s pace attack. Archer won Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. He’s a death-overs specialist, a yorker expert, and a genuinely world-class fast bowler. After the T20 World Cup 2026, he might come tired, but RR will manage his workload carefully.​

Sandeep Sharma (India): Experienced death bowler but had inconsistent economy rates in IPL 2025. He needs to prove he can death-bowl without conceding extra runs.​

Tushar Deshpande (India): Young, developing pacer. Not yet at its peak but shows potential.

Nandre Burger (South Africa): One of the most underrated bowlers in the auction. Burger is brilliant—excellent pace, good lines, and improving consistency. He’ll likely get more chances in IPL 2026.​

Adam Milne (New Zealand, ₹2.4 crore): Fresh signing, brings international T20 experience.

Spinners – The Match-Winners

Ravi Bishnoi (India, ₹7.20 crore): This is RR’s biggest auction win. Bishnoi is a leg-spinner in his prime—young, hungry, and brilliant at T20 cricket. CSK and SRH were bidding up to ₹7 crore, but RR grabbed him at ₹7.20 crore. Expected market price? Around ₹12-15 crore. This is a “steel deal”.​

Bishnoi will be RR’s primary spinner, especially against aggressive batters. Leg-spinners are hard to read, especially in T20, where batters want to attack immediately upon arrival.​

Ravindra Jadeja (India): Dual threat—bats brilliantly, bowls even better. His left-arm spin is different from Bishnoi’s leg-spin, giving RR excellent bowling variety.​

For Bettors: Bet on “Ravi Bishnoi 2+ wickets” in most RR matches. At ₹7.20 crore, he’ll play nearly every game. Leg-spinners often get 2+ wickets because batters miscalculate. Typical odds: 2.00-2.20—high probability of profit.

Squad Depth: RR’s Bench Strength is Solid

Player	Role	Strength
Sushant Mishra	Pacer	Won Smat (state tournament), took 3 wickets in the final, showing promise
Lhuan-Dre Pretorius	Batter	All-rounder, South African, backup middle-order
Shubham Dubey	Batter	Solid domestic performer, middle-order backup
Kuldeep Sen	Pacer	Budget pacer option, developing fast bowler
Aman Rao	Backup Opener	IPL experience, emergency opener
Vignesh Puthur	Pacer	Former MI player, young bowler
Yudhvir Singh	Bowler	Backup bowling option

The Big Picture: RR’s bench strength is solid (8.5-9/10). They have quality backups if a player gets injured or underperforms. This is crucial for IPL success—every team has 2-3 weak patches during the season, and having good replacements saves you from losing important matches.​

RR’s Complete Playing 11 for IPL 2026

Position	Player	Role	Key Strength
1️⃣	Yashasvi Jaiswal	Opener	559 runs last season, consistent
2️⃣	Vaibhav Suryavanshi	Opener	206.55 strike rate, explosive
3️⃣	Riyan Parag (C?)	Middle-order	Captain/anchor option
4️⃣	Dhruv Jurel	WK-Batter	156 strike rate, 37 average
5️⃣	Ravindra Jadeja	All-rounder	Experience, championship DNA
6️⃣	Donovan Ferreira	Finisher	167 strike rate specialists
7️⃣	Shimron Hetmyer	Batter	Caribbean power hitting
8️⃣	Sam Curran	All-rounder	Flexible, bowling option
9️⃣	Jofra Archer	Pacer	T20 World Cup star, death specialist
🔟	Ravi Bishnoi	Spinner	₹7.2 cr steal deal, leg-spinner
1️⃣1️⃣	Sandeep Sharma	Pacer	Death-overs experience
Impact	Nandre Burger / Tushar Deshpande	Pacer	Backup fast bowler

RR’s Strengths: Why They Can Challenge for IPL 2026 Title

1. Opening Partnership is IPL’s Best Among Indian Players

Jaiswal (consistent, 559 runs) + Suryavanshi (explosive, 206 SR) is a dream combination. Other teams might have one good opener, but RR has two of the best. This means power starts in nearly every match.​

2. Jadeja Adds Championship DNA

Jadeja won titles with CSK. He’s been to finals, knows what it takes, and brings maturity to RR’s young squad. His presence stabilises the middle order under pressure and provides a dual threat (bat + ball).​

3. Ravi Bishnoi at ₹7.2 Crore

Getting a world-class leg-spinner at below-market price is huge. Bishnoi will play every match, take wickets, and offer unmatched variety in RR’s bowling. Leg-spinners are rare; having a world-class one is gold.​

4. Flexible All-Rounders

Sam Curran, Jadeja, and Donovan Ferreira can adapt to any situation—bat top-order, middle-order, or finisher, or bowl. This flexibility wins IPL matches.

RR’s Potential Concerns: What Could Go Wrong

1. Captain Uncertainty

Who will captain Rajasthan Royals? Riyan Parag led them last year, but there’s no official confirmation. If Jadeja becomes captain (likely given his experience), it’s his first time captaining outside CSK—added pressure. Captaincy changes sometimes disrupt team chemistry.​

2. Finisher Form Issues

Both Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira need consistency. If both underperform, RR’s scoring in overs 15-20 will suffer, and they’ll lose matches they should comfortably win.​

3. Death Bowling Reliability

Sandeep Sharma’s economy rate was too high in IPL 2025. If he doesn’t improve, RR might leak 15-20 extra runs in death overs, costing them close matches. This is a real concern.​

4. Dhruv Jurel’s Big Price Tag

At ₹18 crore, Jurel is expensive. If he doesn’t score 400+ runs, RR will underutilise their investment. The pressure of the price tag might negatively affect his form and confidence.​

How to Bet on RR IPL 2026 Matches: Lotus365 Strategy

Best Betting Markets for Rajasthan Royals

1. Powerplay Run Bets (BEST FOR RR)

Why: Jaiswal and Suryavanshi’s powerplay scoring is predictable (70-90 run range). In the first 6 overs, they attack relentlessly.

Bet: “RR Powerplay OVER 72 runs” at odds 1.90

• Probability: Very high (Jaiswal averages 70+, Suryavanshi’s SR is 206)
• Example: ₹500 bet = ₹950 profit

2. Total Runs Bets (MEDIUM RISK)

Why: RR has balanced batting (Jadeja stability, young aggression). Totals are usually 150-180.

Bet: “RR Match Total OVER 160 runs” at odds 1.80

• Probability: 65-70% (balanced team)
• Example: ₹1,000 bet = ₹1,800 profit

3. Match Winner (WHEN FACING WEAK TEAMS)

Why: RR’s squad is balanced. Against weak teams, they’re favourites.

Bet: “RR vs Delhi Capitals” at odds 1.50-1.70

• Conditions: Only bet when RR faces weaker teams
• Risk: Lower, but also lower returns

4. Ravi Bishnoi Wicket Bets (HIGH PROBABILITY)

Why: Bishnoi plays every match, bowls 4 overs per game, and batters struggle against leg-spin.

Bet: “Ravi Bishnoi 2+ wickets” at odds 2.00-2.20

• Probability: High (he’s a specialist spinner)
• Frequency: Available almost every RR match
• Example: ₹500 bet = ₹1,000-₹1,100 profit

5. Session Bets During Middle Overs (7-15 Overs)

Why: RR’s middle order (Jadeja, Jurel, and Parag) plays cautious-to-aggressive cricket here.

Bet: “Runs 7-15 overs OVER 95 runs” at odds 1.85

• Probability: 60% (depends on opposition)
• Quick Result: Know result in 9 overs (quick feedback)
• Example: ₹1,000 bet = ₹1,850 profit

Top Betting Tips: How to Win on RR Matches

Tip 1: Bet on Consistency, Not Hype

Jaiswal’s powerplay runs are reliable. Don’t bet on Suryavanshi to score 50+ runs because he’s young and inconsistent. Bet on team totals and session runs instead—less risky, better win rate.

Tip 2: Track RR’s Opposition

• Against CSK/MI (strong spinners): RR’s young batters struggle. Don’t bet on high RR totals.
• Against weak teams, RR dominates. Bet on RR to win and high totals confidently.

Tip 3: Jadeja’s Batting Position Matters

If Jadeja bats at 5-6, RR’s middle order stabilises. This increases team totals by 15-20 runs. Account for this in your total run bets.

Tip 4: Use Lotus365‘s Session Betting (RECOMMENDED)

RR matches work best with session bets (powerplay, 7-15 overs, death overs) rather than full-match bets. You’ll:

• Know results faster (not waiting 3-4 hours)
• Feel less pressure
• Adapt to live match situations
• Increase win percentage

Tip 5: Claim ₹500 Login Bonus + 20% Deposit

When betting on RR matches, use your Lotus365 login bonus (₹500 free) and 20% deposit bonus to increase betting capital without extra risk. This increases your betting power without risking additional money.​

FAQs – Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026