IPL 2026: 3 RR Players Who Could Be Traded Before the IPL Auction
Rajasthan Royals had a rather below-par season during IPL 2025, finishing ninth in the table. The team endured inconsistency and injuries, but it will turn to rebuilding for the next season to bounce back stronger. Along with the IPL 2026 auction, RR will likely be active in the trading window prior to the auction for some key changes and strengthening the squad with players who can improve RR's weaknesses. Below are three players who RR may look to trade before the next auction.
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi could be one of the first players RR might trade. The left-arm pacer couldn’t make much of an impact this season, going wicketless in the five matches he played. His economy rate of around 10 also hurt the team, as he struggled to control runs in both the powerplay and death overs. Farooqi has been inconsistent and couldn’t give RR the wickets they needed, even though he’s considered a good young talent. The team might look to trade him and bring in a more experienced overseas pacer to support Jofra Archer.
Tushar Deshpande
Another player who could be in the trading radar of RR is Tushar Deshpande. The right-arm pacer played 10 matches in the IPL 2025, managing to take nine wickets below par by all standards in the league. Having shown promise in his earlier stints with CSK, Deshpande struggled to live up to that reputation in RR colours. His economy rate was also on the higher side and he largely disappointed in key moments, letting the opposition batsmen get away. Management of RR may look to trade him for another Indian pacer that can provide some control at the back end of the attack.
Sanju Samson
One of the biggest discussions leading up to the trade window could be around Sanju Samson's future with the RR franchise. There have been trade talks around their captain in recent months, and if the trade window is to be taken seriously, that could never be ruled out. The form of Samson suffered through an injury-impacted 2025 season, where he played only nine matches and scored only 285 runs which is not a significant contribution for him. His role as an Impact Player when not fully fit also resulted in unwanted diversion. With RR looking for stability and fresh leadership, the management may see an opportunity to trade out their hugely popular captain, for another explosive option up the order to provide both dynamism and reliability to the batting line-up.
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