Rajasthan Royals have made some of the biggest moves ahead of the IPL 2026 Retention Day, signalling a complete shift in their squad strategy. The inaugural champions stunned everyone by trading long-time captain Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings, ending one of the franchise’s most iconic partnerships.
In a blockbuster return, RR brought back Ravindra Jadeja — their star performer from the early IPL years — for ₹14 crore. As part of the Samson deal, the Royals also secured English all-rounder Sam Curran for ₹2.4 crore, strengthening their lower middle order and pace balance.
Major Incoming Trades
RR also completed a smart business move by pulling off one of the biggest steals of the season. They traded Nitish Rana (valued at ₹4.2 crore) to Delhi Capitals and received South African power-hitter Donovan Ferreira in return for just ₹1 crore.
RR’s Squad Situation Last Season
Before the IPL 2025 mega auction, RR had retained a solid core including:
- Sanju Samson
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Riyan Parag
- Dhruv Jurel
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Sandeep Sharma
This year, the dynamics have dramatically shifted.
RR Player Trades Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
- Ravindra Jadeja – ₹14 crore (from CSK)
- Sam Curran – ₹2.4 crore (from CSK)
- Donovan Ferreira – ₹1 crore (from DC)
Players Retained by Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026
- Sanju Samson
- Nitish Rana
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