Rajasthan Royals started the IPL 2026 build-up with some of the smartest and boldest trade decisions of the season.
They fixed gaps, strengthened the core, added match-winners — and for a moment, it looked like RR were preparing one of their most complete squads in years.
But one wrong retention call has suddenly brought their entire planning under doubt.
A single mistake that could cost them heavily and disrupt the balance they worked so hard to create.
RR’s Trade Window Was Close to Perfect
Before the retention list came out, Rajasthan Royals looked like the franchise with the most clarity.
Sanju Samson Trade Was Forced — But RR Turned It Into a Win
Sanju wasn’t willing to stay, and the franchise had no option but to move him.
But RR didn’t panic.
They executed one of the most powerful exchanges of the trade window:
- Ravindra Jadeja → RR
- Sam Curran → RR
Two world-class all-rounders.
Two proven match-winners.
And suddenly, RR’s balance looked better than ever.
Fixing the Finishers Problem
RR struggled badly in the final overs last season.
Hetmyer was inconsistent, and the Indian finishers couldn’t deliver.
So they traded Nitish Rana to Delhi and brought in finisher D Ferreira, a player in red-hot form.
This move instantly resolved RR’s long-pending lower-order issue.
Everything was falling into place… until the retention list revealed a major misstep.
The Big Blunder: Retaining Shimron Hetmyer at 11 Cr
This is where RR’s perfect plan began to crack.
Shimron Hetmyer, who had a poor season, was overvalued at ₹11 crore, and clearly struggled with form, finishing, and consistency.
Most experts expected RR to release him — especially after acquiring D Ferreira.
But instead of freeing up money, RR retained Hetmyer…
… and this has created a massive problem.
RR Now Have Only ₹16.05 Crore Left — Not Enough for What They Need
With just ₹16.05 crore in their purse, the Royals still need to fill three critical slots:
1⃣ A quality Indian pacer
Indian fast bowlers with experience are expensive and in extremely high demand.
2⃣ A solid overseas pacer
Jofra Archer is injury-prone, and RR desperately need backup.
Overseas pacers of high quality also don’t come cheap.
3⃣ A reliable wrist spinner
This is the biggest gap.
RR need a match-winning wrist spinner — and the best ones will drain the purse quickly.
Trying to solve all three key areas within just 16.05 crore is nearly impossible.
RR have effectively handicapped themselves.
The Real Mistake: Not Retaining Wanindu Hasaranga
This is where the blunder becomes even more obvious.
RR already had a ready-made solution in their squad: Wanindu Hasaranga, a world-class wrist spinner and game-changer.
If they had simply:
- Released Hetmyer (11 cr)
- Retained Hasaranga
…the team would have looked much more settled:
Jadeja – Curran
Ferreira as finisher
Hasaranga as frontline spinner
Enough money left for a pacer or two
Instead, RR now face the auction with:
- An overpriced and out-of-form finisher,
- No top-tier wrist spinner,
- Limited budget
- Multiple holes to fill
This one mistake could weaken at least one — if not more — departments in IPL 2026.
Rajasthan Royals did almost everything right during the trade window.
They rebuilt their core beautifully, fixed their biggest issues, and added players who can win tournaments.
But retaining Shimron Hetmyer at ₹11 crore — instead of retaining Hasaranga or freeing purse space — is a decision that may haunt them.
In a league as tight as the IPL:
one bad retention can hurt an entire season’s balance.
RR will enter the IPL 2026 auction with big expectations… but also big pressure, thanks to this avoidable mistake.
