Rajasthan Royals: A Young Band with an Old Rockstar

A future bet with a nostalgic twist.

Sanju Samson is out, Ravindra Jadeja is in. After serving as deputy, Riyan Parag has been handed the captaincy. Samson's 11-year association ends, while Jadeja's return revives a relationship dating to the tournament's inception.

Statistically the worst bowling side last season, an overhaul was expected. The Royals released the Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, shoring up with Indian spinners Ravi Bishnoi, Vignesh Puthur, and Yash Raj Punja to complement Jadeja.

The revamp extended to pace, with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma, and Akash Madhwal released. The Royals brought in Sushant Mishra, Brijesh Sharma, Kuldeep Sen, and Adam Milne as likely backups to a pace attack led by Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, and Sandeep Sharma.

24-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal and his opening partner, 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, are flag bearers of a youthful team. This identity is reinforced by 24-year-old captain Riyan Parag, with Dhruv Jurel and Ravi Bishnoi (both 25) rounding out a strong Indian core alongside 36-year-old Ravindra Jadeja, the seniormost statesman.

Probable XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag (C), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira/Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande/Kuldeep Sen

Injury/Availability Watch:
The loss of Sam Curran, part of their trade with CSK, is a significant blow. Dasun Shanaka has been signed as a replacement but is unlikely to offer the same team balance.

What They Do Better Than Most:
Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi's explosive starts could rival only SRH's Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Last season, in seven partnerships, the duo amassed 422 runs at an average of 60.28 and a rate of 12.17 runs per over. Shimron Hetmyer's return to form and likely move to number three further bolsters the top order.

The Player That Changes Their Ceiling:
With Samson gone, Yashasvi Jaiswal is now the nucleus of the batting. No longer a rookie, expectations have shifted to substance. In 2025, he had his second-best season with 559 runs at a strike rate of 159.71. Now out of India's T20I reckoning, he has a point to prove. A 600-plus run season at a high strike rate could catapult the Royals into contention.

Unaddressed Bowling Challenges:
The Royals had the worst fast bowling average in IPL 2025 and were the third-most expensive. Their attack will likely be led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, but Archer's recent returns are a concern. Sandeep Sharma is the most experienced pacer; others are largely untested at the IPL level.

Their spin attack lacks intimidation. Ravi Bishnoi remains a work in progress, and the others have minimal experience. The Royals will lean on Jadeja, the only proven performer, to lead and provide control.

The Prodigy:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already rewritten expectations for a 14-year-old. After a year including Player of the Series at the U19 World Cup, a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy century, and a 190 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he returns to the big stage.

The season opener on March 30 in Guwahati will see Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja face their former sides, marking Riyan Parag's first home game as full-time captain.