IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals to make major changes ahead of IPL mega auction, three veteran players set to leave!

Rajasthan Royals are now preparing to enter the IPL 2026 season with a new strategy and fresh faces. The team is preparing to release three prominent players. Find out who these veterans are.

IPL 2026: Preparations for IPL 2026 have begun, and teams have intensified their discussions on changes to their squads. Rajasthan Royals are also preparing to make significant decisions. The team's performance last season was below expectations. Despite strong performances from players like stand-in captain Riyan Parag, young Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, Rajasthan finished ninth. This is why the management is now planning to release some prominent players.

Sanju Samson's departure is almost certain

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is being widely discussed for release. Sources indicate that the franchise has decided to release him before the IPL 2026 auction. Samson played only nine matches last season due to injuries and was unable to perform well with the bat.

Sanju made his IPL debut with Rajasthan in 2013 and has since become one of the team's most reliable batsmen. He has scored 4,704 runs in his IPL career, all while playing for Rajasthan, but frequent injuries and the pressure of captaincy have impacted his performance.

Mahish Teekshna may also be out

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshna was signed by Rajasthan Royals last season for ₹4.40 crore. However, his performance was also disappointing. He took just 11 wickets in the entire season, at an economy of 9.26 and an average of over 37.

The team management is now looking for a bowler who can be effective in both the powerplay and death overs. Therefore, Rajasthan could release Teekshna and look for better spin options.

Sword also on Shimron Hetmyer

West Indies star batsman Shimron Hetmyer's performance has been on the decline over the past few seasons. Hetmyer, who was retained for ₹11 crore (₹11 crore), scored just 239 runs in 14 matches in the 2025 season. He completely failed to play the role of a finisher in the team.

Hetmyer hasn't reached the 300-run mark in a single season since the 2022 season. Therefore, Rajasthan Royals could release him and look for a new finisher or foreign power-hitter.

Rajasthan will come up with a new strategy

Rajasthan Royals are now preparing to enter the 2026 season with a new strategy and fresh faces. The franchise is looking for experienced all-rounders and specialist batsmen to strengthen the team.

In such a situation, it is certain that the next season of Rajasthan Royals will start with a completely new thinking and a new captain.

PC:ABPNews