How Are RR Looking as the 2026 IPL Season Starts

Udaipur, April 1, 2026: The wait for the new Indian Premier League season is nearly over, with this year promising to be the biggest and best ever. There is a new expanded schedule of 84 games, up 10 on last season, with the Rajasthan Royals and other teams each playing a total of 16 league matches each. 

There’s no denying that the 2025 season was tough for the Royals, who slumped to 9th in the standings, above the Chennai Super Kings only on net run rate. 

A new season means new opportunities, though. After some big moves during the mini-auction, including RR legend Ravindra Jadeja rejoining the team, here’s how things are shaping up for RR going into 2026. 

The return of the Rockstar

There’s no doubt that RR fans are delighted to see ‘Sir’ Jadeja return to the Rajasthan Royals. He was an instrumental part of the team’s 2008 season, when RR won their first, and only, IPL title. Fans will be hoping his return brings back the success of those early days. 

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Jadeja’s return to the Royals came as a part of the huge trade with the Chennai Super Kings, who also sent English all-rounder Sam Curran to Rajasthan. However, RR had to give up long-time captain Sanju Samson to CSK in return. The arrival of two world-class players should have strengthened the RR team, even if it meant losing Samson, however this hasn’t been how things have progressed. 

Curran to miss first season with RR

With just days until the opening games of the 2026 IPL season, RR announced that Curran would miss the entire season with a groin injury. This is undoubtedly a huge blow, as it was hoped he’d make big contributions with both the bat and ball. 

The team have signed Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka as a replacement. Although there’s no doubting Shanaka is a great player, and is fresh from captaining Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup, he isn’t quite at Curran’s level. 

Losing the Englishman has been a major hit to RR’s chances, and this is showing in the betting odds. The team are the least fancied of all, with most betting sites having them at around 14/1. 

This is in stark contrast to the favourites, the Mumbai Indians, who are at around 7/2 depending on where you bet. Behind them, most bookmakers have the reigning champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru as second favourites at around 11/2. 

Anything can happen in the IPL, though, and RR still have plenty of strengths. The team added spinner Ravi Bishnoi to help the bowling attack, and have retained key players such as wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. There are certainly reasons for fans to be optimistic about the Royals’ upcoming season, even if the bookmakers aren’t so sure.

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