In the lead-up to the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has voiced significant concerns regarding the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the champions of 2008. In a video shared on X, Chopra analyzed the team’s strengths and weaknesses, along with their potential risks and opportunities for IPL 2026, which kicks off on March 28.
Chopra stressed that the absence of Sam Curran could severely hinder RR’s chances of clinching the title this season. He pointed out that the franchise will greatly miss the all-round capabilities of the English star. “Sam Curran’s injury has elevated the challenge for RR. Who will step up to bat at No. 8? Could this become an issue for them again? They may need to bring in Nandre Burger,” Chopra remarked.
Despite the setback, Chopra remains optimistic about RR’s batting lineup, describing it as explosive and capable of causing major problems for rival teams. He also praised the bowling unit, particularly the potential impact of their spin department.
“The Rajasthan Royals boast a dynamic batting order with players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Daniel Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jofra Archer,” he noted.
“Their pace attack is equally formidable, with bowlers adept at handling various match scenarios. Burger with the new ball, alongside Jofra Archer, Sandeep, and Tushar, offers depth. Additionally, their spin options have improved significantly; Jadeja and Bishnoi are standout performers compared to last season,” Chopra added.
Chopra highlighted that IPL 2026 presents a golden opportunity for RR’s new captain, Riyan Parag, to showcase his leadership skills after taking over from Sanju Samson. “This is a crucial chance for him to establish his reputation. Players like Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal could contend for the Orange Cap, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is poised for a breakout season. The team’s strategy will focus on consistent aggression in batting while aiming to secure early wickets and maintain pressure during the middle overs in bowling,” Chopra explained.
RR Squad for IPL 2026:
Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Nandre Burger, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Adam Milne, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Sam Curran, Shubham Dubey, Kuldeep Sen, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh, Kunal Singh Rathore, Yash Punja, Ashok Sharma, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Ravi Singh, Brijesh Sharma.