Rajasthan Royals entered the IPL 2026 auction with a very specific problem to solve. The departures of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana left a gaping hole in their spin department, one that could not be addressed with a single like-for-like replacement.
What RR did instead was far smarter and makes them one of the best among IPL 2026 squads. They rebuilt the entire spin unit from the ground up, focusing on variety, control, and matchup flexibility rather than headline names.
By the end of the IPL 2026 auction and trade window, the Rajasthan Royals squad emerged with arguably the most rounded spin attack in the league, one capable of adapting across surfaces and phases of the game.
Trading For Control And Experience
The trade for Ravindra Jadeja immediately altered the complexion of the RR squad. As a slow left-arm spinner, Jadeja brings control, accuracy, and unmatched experience in Indian conditions. More importantly, he restores balance to the XI as a bowling all-rounder who can contribute without forcing RR to compromise batting depth.
Alongside Jadeja, RR traded in Donovan Ferreira, an off-spinning batting all-rounder who adds a different dimension. While Ferreira’s bowling is more situational, his presence gives RR flexibility in matchups and strengthens the middle order without diluting spin resources.
Together, these trades ensured RR replaced Hasaranga and Theekshana not with replicas, but with broader skill sets.
Ravi Bishnoi: The Perfect Complement
Landing Ravi Bishnoi for INR 7.20 crore was the auction’s most decisive moment for Rajasthan Royals.
Bishnoi is a defensive right-arm leg-spinner who thrives on pace, accuracy, and hard lengths rather than big turn. That makes him an ideal foil to Jadeja’s control-based left-arm spin. Where Jadeja squeezes runs, Bishnoi builds pressure through speed and flat trajectories.
This pairing gives RR a spin axis that works across venues, not just on slow tracks.
Betting On Upside: Yash Raj Punja And Vignesh Puthur
RR didn’t stop at proven options. They invested in two wrist spinners with very different profiles, further deepening their spin resources.
Yash Raj Punja is a tall leg-spinner in the mould of Anil Kumble, relying on bounce, dip, and a deceptive googly he has developed by studying Afghanistan’s spinners like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman. His height allows him to extract bounce even on flatter surfaces, making him a long-term asset rather than a situational pick.
Vignesh Puthur, released by Mumbai Indians, is a left-arm wristspinner from Kerala and one of the rawest high-skill prospects in domestic cricket. He is far from finished, but the upside is undeniable. RR have a history of backing young, specialised talent, and Puthur fits that mould perfectly.
Riyan Parag: Underrated part-timer
The retention of Riyan Parag quietly ties this entire strategy together.
Parag is arguably the best batting spin all-rounder in Indian white-ball cricket right now. His ability to bowl both off-spin and leg-spin gives RR unmatched matchup flexibility. On days when conditions demand it, Parag can deliver overs without RR having to reshuffle their bowling plans.
This makes the RR squad uniquely adaptable, especially in middle overs where games are often won or lost.
Why RR’s Spin Attack Stands Out
Unlike teams that rely on one marquee spinner, the Rajasthan Royals squad offers:
- Left-arm orthodox control (Jadeja)
- Right-arm leg-spin pressure (Bishnoi)
- Tall, bounce-based leg-spin (Punja)
- Left-arm wrist-spin variation (Puthur)
- Dual-spin support from Riyan and Ferreira
This is spin coverage across every angle, speed, and matchup, something no other franchise can currently claim.
Rajasthan Royals didn’t chase nostalgia or replace names for names. They reimagined their spin attack.
By combining experience, control, youth, and variety, RR have built a spin unit that can survive flat tracks, dominate slow ones, and adapt in-game without forcing compromises elsewhere in the XI. It’s a quiet but masterful piece of squad building , one that could give them a decisive edge in IPL 2026.
