Rajasthan Royals’ most expensive players at each IPL auction: From Sanju Samson to Ben Stokes

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The Rajasthan Royals (RR), the inaugural champions, have consistently been one of the most intriguing franchises at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction table. Their strategy has often been a study in contrast: sometimes adopting a moneyball approach to unearth hidden gems, and at other times, betting big on a single, world-class match-winner. This history of fluctuating high-spends has been central to their team-building, aiming to acquire players who either anchor the team with high cricketing IQ (like Rahul Dravid) or provide explosive, game-changing power (like Chris Morris and Ben Stokes).

Heading into the IPL 2026 auction, the Royals have undergone a seismic shift, having finalized one of the biggest trades in league history by sending long-time captain Sanju Samson to CSK in exchange for the seasoned brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja and the all-round dynamism of Sam Curran.

This bold restructuring, which also saw the return of head coach Kumar Sangakkara, means RR will now enter the auction with a core built on two of the world’s best all-rounders, alongside retained stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jofra Archer. With a significant purse remaining (around INR 16.05 crore) and key slots to fill, the upcoming auction is crucial for the Royals to establish a new leadership structure and strategically acquire the remaining specialists needed to complement their newly traded and retained core.

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