Rajasthan Royals enter the IPL 2027 cycle as a franchise in transition. The inaugural champions, who lifted the trophy under Shane Warne back in 2008, have spent the last few seasons rebuilding, and the road to the 2027 season starts with a fresh leadership group, a bold trade call, and a squad that made the playoffs in 2026. Here is everything we know about the RR IPL 2027 squad, including the players, captain, coach, and what to expect before the December 2026 mini auction.
RR IPL 2027: quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Franchise | Rajasthan Royals (RR) |
| IPL titles | 1 (2008) |
| Owner | Royals Sports Group, led by Manoj Badale |
| Home ground | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Captain | Riyan Parag (led RR in IPL 2026; expected to continue) |
| Head coach | Kumar Sangakkara |
| IPL 2026 result | Reached the playoffs under Parag |
| Retention deadline | Reportedly November 15, 2026 (not officially confirmed) |
| IPL 2027 auction | Mini auction in December 2026 (date TBA) |
The current squad base
Rajasthan Royals have not yet announced their retained and released lists for IPL 2027. The official retention list is expected around the retention deadline, which is reportedly set for November 15, 2026, though the BCCI has not officially confirmed the date. Until then, the confirmed squad base is the group that played IPL 2026.
That 2026 squad was built after one of the boldest trade windows in recent IPL history. The franchise moved on long-time captain Sanju Samson, who was traded to Chennai Super Kings at his existing fee of Rs 18 crore. In return, RR received star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose fee was revised from Rs 18 crore to Rs 14 crore, along with England all-rounder Sam Curran at Rs 2.4 crore. RR also traded Nitish Rana to Delhi Capitals, bringing South African all-rounder Donovan Ferreira the other way.
At the IPL 2026 auction, RR’s headline buy was leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for Rs 7.20 crore, beating competition from SunRisers Hyderabad and CSK. The franchise also invested in uncapped Indian talent, signing Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur and Ravi Singh.
The core retained before 2026 included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh Charak and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Full squad (IPL 2026 base, retention TBA)
| Player | Role | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Riyan Parag (captain) | All-rounder | India |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter | India |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Batter | India |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper-batter | India |
| Shimron Hetmyer | Batter | Overseas |
| Shubham Dubey | Batter | India |
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius | Batter | Overseas |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | India |
| Sam Curran | All-rounder | Overseas |
| Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder | Overseas |
| Yudhvir Singh Charak | All-rounder | India |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler (leg-spin) | India |
| Jofra Archer | Bowler (pace) | Overseas |
| Tushar Deshpande | Bowler (pace) | India |
| Sandeep Sharma | Bowler (pace) | India |
| Nandre Burger | Bowler (pace) | Overseas |
| Kwena Maphaka | Bowler (pace) | Overseas |
| Sushant Mishra | Bowler (pace) | India |
| Yash Raj Punja | Uncapped | India |
| Vignesh Puthur | Uncapped | India |
| Ravi Singh | Uncapped | India |
Which of these players are retained for 2027 will only be known when the franchise announces its official retention list. Expect the big names in the top order and the young Indian core to stay, while fringe and uncapped players face the most uncertainty.
Captain: Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag was named Rajasthan Royals captain ahead of IPL 2026, ushering in a new era after Sanju Samson’s move to Chennai Super Kings. Parag, who debuted for RR in 2019 and has spent his entire IPL career with the franchise, had briefly led the side in eight matches in 2025 when Samson was sidelined by injury.
The full-time appointment paid off. Parag led Rajasthan to the IPL 2026 playoffs, joining an elite list of young captains to lead a side in the knockout stage. With Rahul Dravid also departing as head coach, Parag formed a new leadership pairing with Kumar Sangakkara, and the franchise is expected to continue with him as captain for IPL 2027. That said, no official announcement for the 2027 season has been made yet, so his continuation is expected but not confirmed.
Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped in as stand-in skipper for one match during IPL 2026 when Parag missed a game with a hamstring injury, and Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel remain the obvious leadership backups.
Head coach: Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara returned as Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of IPL 2026, taking over from Rahul Dravid after a disappointing 2025 campaign in which the Royals finished ninth. Sangakkara had previously served as RR’s head coach from 2021 to 2024 and also holds the role of Director of Cricket, giving him control over both the backend and on-field strategy.
His biggest coaching success story at the franchise has been the development of young talent, most notably Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose rapid rise was one of the standout stories of recent IPL seasons. Sangakkara is set to continue as head coach for IPL 2027, with the franchise backing him to lead its squad-building plans, player development and overall cricketing strategy.
Key departures and trades to know
- Sanju Samson to CSK: the biggest move. RR’s long-time captain and face of the franchise was traded to Chennai Super Kings at Rs 18 crore. Samson later called the decision a huge risk, saying he knew 2025 was his last season with Rajasthan.
- Ravindra Jadeja to RR: came back to the franchise where he started his IPL career, at a revised fee of Rs 14 crore, as part of the Samson swap.
- Sam Curran to RR: also part of the Samson trade, joining at Rs 2.4 crore.
- Nitish Rana to DC: traded to Delhi Capitals, with Donovan Ferreira moving the other way to RR.
- Released before 2026: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore and Ashok Sharma.
What happens next: retention and the mini auction
The path to the final RR IPL 2027 squad runs through two key dates. First, the retention deadline, reportedly November 15, 2026, when RR must submit its retained players list. Franchises typically confirm their lists publicly within a day or two of the deadline, which is when we will know exactly who stays and who goes.
Second, the IPL 2027 mini auction in December 2026, where RR will fill its vacant slots. In a mini-auction cycle, most of the core squad usually stays intact and teams shop for specific gaps, so expect RR to target one or two specific roles rather than a full rebuild. The trade window closes one week before the auction and reopens afterwards until one month before the season, so further trades remain possible.
This page will be updated once the official retention list and auction results are announced.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the captain of Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2027?
Riyan Parag led Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 and is expected to continue as captain for IPL 2027. The franchise has not made an official announcement for the 2027 season yet.
Who is the head coach of Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2027?
Kumar Sangakkara. He took over from Rahul Dravid ahead of IPL 2026 and is set to continue in the role for IPL 2027, while also serving as Director of Cricket.
Who owns Rajasthan Royals?
The franchise is owned by Royals Sports Group, led by Manoj Badale.
What is the home ground of Rajasthan Royals?
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is RR’s primary home ground. Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium has also served as a second home venue.
How many IPL titles have Rajasthan Royals won?
One. Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL in 2008 under Shane Warne and have not won the title since.
Is Sanju Samson still with Rajasthan Royals?
No. Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2026 in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
When will the RR IPL 2027 squad be finalised?
The squad will take final shape after the retention deadline (reportedly November 15, 2026) and the IPL 2027 mini auction in December 2026.
Conclusion
Rajasthan Royals head into IPL 2027 with a settled leadership group in Riyan Parag and Kumar Sangakkara, a young Indian batting core built around Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and the experience of Ravindra Jadeja anchoring the all-round department. The franchise made the playoffs in 2026 after the bold decision to move on from Sanju Samson, and the December mini auction will decide whether this group can take the next step toward a first title since 2008. Once the official retention list drops, the picture will become much clearer.
