One of the key concerns for the Rajasthan Royals in the vulnerability to death bowling. The likes of Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma conceded at an economy rate of 12 in the last IPL season. Archer wasn’t impactful in the death overs during the T20 World Cup 2026, further raising concerns about his effectiveness in the final overs. While Tushar Despande brings IPL experience, the lack of a consistently reliable death specialist could prove costly in high-pressure situations.
Ahead of the IPL 2026, the RR received a major blow as Sam Curran, who was traded from the Chennai Super Kings, was ruled out of the season due to a groin injury, weakening the all-round unit. Dasun Shanaka was added as his replacement, but he hasn’t yet proved at the IPL-level, leaving Ravindra Jadeja shouldering a significant portion of the all-round responsibilities, which could stretch the team’s balance.
Furthermore, the Rajasthan Royals appeared to be facing batting role ambiguity, given that multiple players are suited for the middle order role. The team management could face a selection dilemma in identifying a fixed finisher and establishing clear roles, which may lead to instability in pressure situations during the match