Rajasthan Royals (RR) had one of the strongest sides in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last three years and had among the strongest options to choose from when it came to the retentions. The franchise has retained skipper Sanju Samson as well as star youngsters Dhruv Jurel, Yashavi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag. Shimron Hetmyer is the only overseas players to be retained. Veteran pacer Sandeep Singh will also stay with the franchise as an uncapped player.

Also Read: Players Retained By Mumbai Indians

Jos Buttler, who has been with the Royals since the 2018 season, and Yuzvendra Chahal, who is the highest wicket-taker in both IPL's and RR's history, have been released and will be part of the mega-auction. The Royals have no Right to Match (RTM) card at the auction.

"The franchise have been really successful and consistent over the last three years, with so many players delivering through the course of the last cycle. As we go into this new cycle, we have gone with this core of players who we believe bring something unique to this team, all being in different but exciting stages of their careers. Sanju, in particular, has been a real anchor for us—not only with his consistency on the field but also in how he leads by example, inspiring everyone around him. It has been incredibly rewarding to see this core of young Indian players grow - Yashasvi, Riyan and Dhruv - all of them having immense talent and drive. With their experience, both Sandeep and Shimron have displayed calmness under pressure, and have brought their game-changing abilities to the fold.

"For us, retaining this group isn’t just about their skills—it’s about extending the trust, giving ourselves a sense of stability, and putting ourselves in the best position going into the all-important Auction. It's certainly an exciting time for the franchise and for these players," said RR head coach Rahul Dravid, explaining their decisions.

Also Read: Players Retained by Rajasthan Royals

Retained Players:Sanju Samson (INR 18 crore), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 18 crore), Riyan Parag (INR 14 crore), Dhruv Jurel (INR 14 crore), Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore), Sandeep Sharma (INR 4 crore)

Released Players: Jos Buttler, Kunal Rathore, Donovan Ferreira, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ravichandran Ashwin, Tanush Kotian, Abid Mushtaq, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini, Keshav Maharaj, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal

Auction Purse Left:Rs. 41 Crore

RTM Cards Left:0

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