3 reasons why RR are the favorites for the title in IPL 2026 ft. Donovan Ferreira

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have made some strategic moves in preparation for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, both at the auction as well as through the trade window. Having appointed Riyan Parag as captain, the inaugural IPL champions will wear a new look despite having many of the same personnel.

With trades that brought Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran and Donovan Ferreira to the side, the Royals seem to be in a good spot. Curran has been replaced by Dasun Shanaka, but despite that setback, they’ve firmly positioned themselves as one of the favorites for the title.

RR’s squad for IPL 2026: Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Nandre Burger, Ravindra Jadeja, Riyan Parag, Dasun Shanaka, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Charak, Aman Rao, Ravi Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Sushant Mishra, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen.

On that note, here are three reasons why RR are the favorites for the title in IPL 2026.

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#3 Donovan Ferreira solves the team’s finishing problems

Donovan Ferreira’s arrival is a game-changer for the Royals, particularly in the context of their finishing woes. Last season, both Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel struggled at times, failing to chase down totals due to a lack of composure in the death overs.

Ferreira’s all-round abilities add a new dimension to the batting order, allowing Hetmyer to shift up the order and bat at No. 3, where he can build innings rather than just finish them. With the South African’s knack for finding boundaries against pace, the Royals now possess a more balanced approach in the middle and lower order.

This newfound depth could be the key to turning tight games in their favor, making them a formidable contender for the title.

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#2 The Royals fixed their all-rounder woes with the trade for Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja’s trade to RR is a significant boost, filling a void that the team had been grappling with for some time. Jadeja not only brings a left-arm spin option, which was sorely missed, but he also adds valuable experience and depth to the batting lineup.

Jadeja’s all-round skills make him a vital player in the T20 format, and his presence will enable RR to have a more balanced squad. Although his recent batting form hasn’t been particularly encouraging, the Royals need not deploy him in the top six. They can allow him to hit pace lower down the order, thereby solving two problems at once.

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#1 Ravi Bishnoi’s signing makes Rajasthan’s bowling well-rounded

Ravi Bishnoi’s signing is a massive step forward for Rajasthan’s bowling attack. The need for a quality wrist-spinner was evident, and Bishnoi fits the bill perfectly, bringing a unique skillset that can trouble batters on the low wickets of Jaipur.

Bishnoi’s skiddy bowling style complements the Royals’ existing pace attack, and although they will play a few matches in Guwahati, he could be useful away from home as well. The leg-spinner performed well upon his T20I comeback, indicating that his days of poor form are behind him.