"He could be used slightly higher up the order" - Sanjay Bangar's big claim on Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Sanjay Bangar has acknowledged that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) might not be able to bat Sam Curran at No. 3 in IPL 2026, considering they have two left-handed openers in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. However, he opined that the England all-rounder will have to be utilized slightly higher in the batting order.

RR traded in Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. They also traded in Donovan Ferreira from the Delhi Capitals (DC) and have a remaining purse of ₹16.05 crore to buy at most nine players, including one overseas, at the mini auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

During an interaction on Star Sports, Bangar reckoned that Riyan Parag might have to bat at No. 3 for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. He also claimed that Curran might have to be accommodated slightly up the order.

"They have plenty of left-handers. Do they want to use somebody like a Sam Curran at No. 3? That is not going to happen, because two left-handers at the top of the order. So Riyan Parag may have to go back and bat at No. 3. Dhruv Jurel can play the middle-order role for you," the former India all-rounder said.

"Jadeja, in the second half of the last season, was quite good in the middle overs, in terms of running those runs hard, and giving strike to the other players. So Parag would enjoy batting with someone like a Jadeja. However, I think that Sam Curran may not have to bat slightly up the order, and he could be used slightly higher up the order," he added.

Sam Curran aggregated 114 runs at a strike rate of 135.71 in five innings in IPL 2025. He smashed a 47-ball 88 at No. 3 in CSK's four-wicket defeat to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a league game in Chennai.

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"He actually partners with Jofra Archer or Sandeep Sharma" - Sanjay Bangar on Nandre Burger potentially being a part of Rajasthan Royals' preferred XI in IPL 2026

The Rajasthan Royals signed Nandre Burger as a replacement player for Sandeep Sharma in IPL 2025. [P/C: Getty]

In the same interaction, Sanjay Bangar opined that Nandre Burger could complement Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma in the Rajasthan Royals' seam-bowling lineup.

"Nandre Burger is quite impressive in whatever we have seen of him so far. For me, he actually partners with Jofra Archer or Sandeep Sharma because Sandeep is the one who has been there perennially. Whenever Sandeep Sharma is there, he does a job for the Rajasthan Royals, and they have shown plenty of faith in him," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator suggested Adil Rashid as a potential acquisition for RR as a spin-bowling partner for Ravindra Jadeja.

"Now it all boils down to whether they need a spinner to play a support role for Jadeja because they have let go of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. They would want to have an overseas spinner. Maybe Adil Rashid, because they certainly like England players. Adil Rashid is quite good in this particular format," Bangar observed.

Sanjay Bangar noted that the Rajasthan Royals will likely continue to have an Indian-heavy batting lineup and an overseas-heavy bowling attack in IPL 2026. However, he acknowledged that the franchise's acquisition of two multi-skilled players, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, will allow them some flexibility.