For almost two decades, Rajasthan Royals have been trying to retrace the footsteps of 2008, the magical year when the Rajasthan Royals made history by winning the very first season of the IPL. The Rajasthan Royals' 2026 campaign was a thrilling ride, with the team getting a chance to participate in the playoffs for the first time in the last five years. The Royals got themselves into the top four of the league table with eight wins, including six consecutive victories to finish the regular season, after clinching a spot in the playoffs with a healthy net run rate.
But the fairytale journey ended in the Qualifier 2 clash against Gujarat Titans. The Rajasthan Royals management should take a step back and assess the contributions of their players on the pitch. While Jofra Archer was on fire, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stunned the cricketing world with his sensational performances, others were found wanting in the crucial games. The Rajasthan Royals management needs to be ruthless in the upcoming mini-auction to clear the books of unwanted players.
Here are five Rajasthan Royals players who are expected to be released ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction
1. Adam Milne (₹2.40 Crore)
Speed is a prized possession in T20 cricket, but it is wasted on the sidelines. New Zealand's fast bowler Adam Milne was bought as a back-up for Jofra Archer, but proved to be a one-off spell.
Milne only lasted one match before injury once again intervened. In the 3.2 overs he bowled, he conceded an eye-watering 41 runs without picking up a wicket, with an economy rate of 12.30. A wasted overseas slot and two crores down the drain for a back-up seamer seems an unwise move by the Rajasthan franchise.
2. Shimron Hetmyer (₹11 Crore)
Left-handed Caribbean power-hitters are supposed to unleash fireworks on the death overs, but Shimron Hetmyer's 2026 campaign was a pale shadow of his previous exploits. The West Indian had tasted international success but failed to reproduce the magic at the crease in the Royals jersey.
Relegated to a lower-order role after arriving in Jaipur, Hetmyer looked thoroughly out of his depth, averaging a dismal 13.00 and recording a strike rate of 113.04. Rajasthan struggled to finish tightly contested matches, and their hopes were further diminished due to Hetmyer's poor returns. The Royals need to cut their losses now and free up this crore-rated overseas slot to sign a dynamic local finisher.
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3. Dasun Shanaka (₹2 Crore)
If a player goes unsold at the initial auction, it is often the market's verdict. Former Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka went unsold at his base price of ₹75 Lakh, but later joined Rajasthan as an injury replacement for English all-rounder Sam Curran.
Unfortunately, Shanaka did not live up to the hopes of the Royals. The explosive left-hander batted five times for the franchise, scoring a mere 63 runs at an average of 12.60 and a best score of 29. His bowling figures were no better, managing just one wicket in six overs across three matches. Releasing Dasun will free up the two crores allocated to him and should enable the management to target a high-profile overseas all-rounder.
4. Sandeep Sharma (₹4 Crore)
Sandeep Sharma always occupied a special place in the hearts of the Rajasthan fans due to his swing and death bowling prowess. But in the modern-day and T20 era, franchises need to look to the future rather than the past.
Sandeep's star fizzled out due to persistent injury problems, and for the 2026 season he could only manage six appearances for the Royals. In those matches, he took five wickets but with an expensive average of 44.80 and an economy rate of 11.38 per over. Releasing his ₹4 crore salary will enable the club to invest in a more reliable seamer for the future.
5. Kuldeep Sen (₹75 Lakh)
Injuries will always take their toll on a squad, but it is unwise to keep injured players on the books as salary dumps. Kuldeep Sen captured the imagination of the coaching staff back in 2024 when he bowled consistently at high velocity, but injuries intervened on his path to stardom.
Sen missed two successive seasons and was unable to bowl a single ball in the 2026 campaign. While releasing him may seem a small financial gain, in truth, it will unlock an important slot at the auction to blood new domestic pacemen.
The Road Ahead
The crushing defeat of Qualifier 2 served as a timely lesson that individual brilliance will not bring the IPL trophy back to Jaipur. By making some painful decisions, the Royals will be in a strong position at the trading table to make the necessary statement signings for 2027.