RR will have a tough time during the IPL 2026 retention, as the side doesn’t boast of a great bowling squad.
After a 9th place finish, a team doesn’t really have many options, but to look for newer players in the subsequent season. That is what Rajasthan Royals will also have to do come the IPL 2026 auction — rebuild their squad. Having said that, there is a certain group of players who must be retained. So, InsideSport takes a look at the bowlers that RR should retain.
Predicted RR retention list for IPL 2026 (bowlers)
Jofra Archer: He is fully fit and he can be threatening. In the 2025 season as well, he played a sizeable amount of matches and ended up picking 11 wickets. The economy rate was 9.47. He stays.
Sandeep Sharma: Did not have the best outing, the economy was high and picked up 9 wickets, but is a gem of a bowler. He can contain runs, bowl at the death. So, should be retained.
Wanindu Hasaranga: Hasa and Theekshana, both picked up 11 wickets in 11 matches. But then, out of the two the all-rouder should be retained, purely on the basis of the value he adds.
Kwena Maphaka: Just played two matches this year, but then he can be groomed by RR. Numbers aren’t the most promising, but the recruiters might have seen some potential.
RR IPL 2025 Squad: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer (Rs. 12.50 crore), Maheesh Theekshana (Rs. 4.4 crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs. 5.25 crore), Akash Madhwal (Rs. 1.20 crore), Kumar Kartikeya (Rs. 30 lakh), Nitish Rana (Rs. 4.20 crore), Tushar Deshpande (Rs. 6.50 crore), Shubham Dubey (Rs. 80 lakh), Yudhvir Singh (Rs. 35 lakh), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Rs. 2 crore), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rs. 1.10 crore), Kwena Maphaka (Rs. 1.50 crore), Kunal Rathore (Rs. 30 lakh), Ashok Sharma (Rs. 30 lakh).
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