From Vaibhav Sooryavanshi To Riyan Parag: Rajasthan Royals Player Ratings For IP
The Rollercoaster Campaign of Rajasthan Royals
The Rajasthan Royals’ memorable IPL 2026 campaign came to a dramatic end in Mullanpur, courtesy of a match-winning century from Shubman Gill, who took the Gujarat Titans to their third IPL final. It was a season defined by incredible highs and testing lows for the pink franchise. While they ran away with dominant victories in some matches, they had to fight tooth and nail until the final day of the league stage, securing a crucial win over the Mumbai Indians to officially qualify for the playoffs.
As captain Riyan Parag pointed out, this young unit was not widely expected to reach this deep into the tournament. Having lost their former captain in a high-profile trade to the Chennai Super Kings, the team had to rebuild on the fly with a highly youthful core. Despite finishing third in the tournament, the campaign must be viewed as a massive success and a stepping stone for the future. Here, we break down the individual performances of the squad in our comprehensive player ratings.
The Standout Performers (9/10 – 10/10)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (10/10): The undisputed star boy of the Rajasthan Royals. The young prodigy was the most important player for the team with the bat, showing maturity far beyond his years. Whether anchoring the innings or taking the attack to the opposition, his batting was a masterclass in composure, making him the only perfect ten of the campaign.
Donovan Ferreira (9/10): Ferreira was a revelation in the middle order. With his clean hitting and ability to shift gears instantly, he played several match-winning cameos that rescued the Royals from precarious situations. His fielding and energetic presence on the field added massive value.
Jofra Archer (9/10): The spearhead looked in his absolute element on the bowling front. Archer bowled with blistering pace, accuracy, and hostility, reminding everyone why he remains one of the most feared pacers in world cricket. He led the RR bowling attack with immense authority.
The Consistent Contributors (7/10 – 8/10)
Dhruv Jurel (8/10): Jurel continued to enhance his reputation as a reliable finisher and a dependable wicketkeeper. He held his nerve under pressure multiple times, guiding the team home in tight run chases and showing excellent glovework behind the stumps.
Ravindra Jadeja (7.5/10): The veteran all-rounder brought crucial balance and experience to this young lineup. Jadeja’s tight spells in the middle overs choked opposition batters, and his handy contributions with the bat down the order proved invaluable throughout the season.
Brijesh Sharma (7.5/10): Sharma was one of the surprise packages of the season, stepping up whenever the team needed a breakthrough. His discipline and consistency in execution made him a reliable asset for captain Riyan Parag.
Yash Raj Punja (7/10): Punja showed immense promise and delivered several key performances. While there is room for growth, his ability to absorb pressure in big games bodes well for the future of Rajasthan’s bowling department.
The Mixed-Bag Performers (6/10)
Yashasvi Jaiswal (6/10): It was a somewhat underwhelming campaign by Jaiswal’s lofty standards. While he played a few explosive knocks at the top, his lack of consistency prevented him from dominating the tournament the way he usually does.
Riyan Parag (6/10): Tasked with leading a highly inexperienced unit after the departure of their former skipper, Parag’s captaincy showed great tactical growth. While his individual performances with the bat were a bit hot and cold, his leadership in taking this young squad to a third-place finish deserves plenty of respect.
Nandre Burger (6/10): The South African quick provided early breakthroughs with his raw pace but struggled with consistency. There were times when he went for too many runs, showing that he still needs to refine his death-overs execution.
Ravi Bishnoi (6/10): The leg-spinner had a quiet season by his standards. Although he bowled some incredibly economical spells to keep the pressure on, he struggled to pick up wickets consistently during the middle overs.
Players with Room for Improvement (3/10 – 5/10)
Sushant Mishra (5/10): Mishra put in a few decent shifts but struggled to cement his place in the starting XI due to inconsistent performances.
Shubham Dubey (4/10): Given a few opportunities to showcase his power-hitting, Dubey couldn’t quite find his rhythm or make a defining contribution to the team’s middle-order plans.
Tushar Deshpande (4/10): Deshpande struggled to control the flow of runs, particularly at the death, leaking runs at a high economy rate and failing to apply consistent pressure on opposition batters.
Shimron Hetmyer (3/10): A highly disappointing season for the experienced West Indian finisher. Hetmyer failed to get going and struggled to find his timing, leaving the lower-middle order highly vulnerable.
Dasun Shanaka (3/10): The Sri Lankan all-rounder failed to make his presence felt in the limited chances he received, struggling with both bat and ball in key situations.
The Underperformers (1/10)
Adam Milne (1/10): The veteran Kiwi pacer had a campaign to forget, failing to make any meaningful contribution on the field.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (1/10): Pretorius struggled to adapt to the high-pressure environment of the tournament and failed to leave an impression.
Ravi Singh (1/10): Singh had a highly limited impact on the season, landing him at the bottom of the ratings along with the other underperformers.
Conclusion: A Bright Future Ahead
Ultimately, while the Rajasthan Royals fell just short of reaching the grand finale, their IPL 2026 campaign was a testament to their resilience and youth development. Under the leadership of Riyan Parag and the spectacular batting of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, this team has laid down a solid foundation. With a few tweaks to their squad, they will undoubtedly enter the next season as one of the strongest contenders for the title.
