Aakash Chopra opens up on Rajasthan Royals’ requirements ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra said the Rajasthan Royals should target a leg-spinner in the IPL 2026 auction. RR have released Wanindu Hasaranga ahead of the auction, and Chopra reckons players like Ravi Bishnoi, Rahul Chahar and Karn Sharma can be the potential targets for the inaugural champions.

The renowned commentator said RR were able to get a good deal for Sanju Samson as they have got players like Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira. The former Delhi cricketer said Curran can be effective while bowling at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, as it has long boundaries.

“Rajasthan released Sanju Samson for ₹18 crore and acquired three players for that amount – Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran and Donovan Ferreira. They have got a very, very sweet deal. Sam Curran is an all-rounder, and although he is not a death bowler, he can take advantage of the big boundaries at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. He does a good job on a slow, low pitch,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“However, if you see in bowling, who is the spinner? They have released Wanindu Hasaranga. They won’t take him back. Maheesh Theekshana didn’t really do a job. Ravi Bishnoi is from Jodhpur and can play for the Jaipur team. They might go towards him. They might go towards Rahul Chahar or Karn Sharma,” he observed.

Chopra said Riyan Parag is an automatic choice to lead RR in IPL 2026. Parag had led the inaugural champions in IPL 2025 after Sanju Samson missed matches due to injury.

“Whom will they make the captain? Riyan Parag is an automatic choice because he was last year as well. Everyone knows about their love for Riyan. Ravindra Jadeja is coming after taking a ₹4 crore pay cut. He could have taken a ₹4 crore pay cut because he might have been offered captaincy,” he said.

The former Delhi cricketer said he feels Yashasvi Jaiswal wants the captaincy onus. Jaiswal has shown the promise to go a long way in his career and scored 559 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2025.

“I feel Yashasvi Jaiswal wants captaincy. He would say that his name is not coming in the Indian T20I and ODI team because he is not a captaincy candidate. You have selected Shubman in T20Is because he is a captaincy candidate. If you do man-to-man marking, he (Jaiswal) was in the T20 World Cup team and was ahead in the pecking order. He is likely to throw his hat in the ring,” Chopra observed.

The IPL 2026 auction is likely to be scheduled on December 15.