"Not only Sanju, but Nitish Rana has also gone" - Aakash Chopra on Rajasthan Royals' potential targets in IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) need to target a prominent middle-order batter at the IPL 2026 auction. He reasoned that the franchise no longer has the services of Nitish Rana, apart from Sanju Samson.

RR have a remaining purse of ₹16.05 crore heading into the IPL 2026 auction. They can acquire at most nine players, including one overseas, at the mini auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener reckoned that the Rajasthan Royals need to bolster their middle order at the IPL 2026 auction, considering they have let go of Rana.

"They will need a backup for Shimron Hetmyer. They have Donovan Ferreira, but if they get someone who can bat down the order, or a batter in the middle order. It could be an Indian as well because they have let Nitish Rana also go. Not only Sanju, but Nitish Rana has also gone," he said.

Chopra opined that Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, and potentially Nandre Burger could be RR's preferred four overseas players in their playing XI.

"With Nitish going, there is another place vacant in the middle order, filling which they will have to start thinking about who they can bring in. Overseas players, it could be Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, and maybe Nandre Burger. They could play with this setup or someone could be brought in and set up in the middle order," he observed.

Donovan Ferreira, Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius are the other three overseas players in the Rajasthan Royals' 16-member squad heading into the IPL 2026 auction.

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"They won't get Ravi Bishnoi" - Aakash Chopra on Rajasthan Royals' potential spin-bowling targets in IPL 2026 auction

The Lucknow Super Giants released Ravi Bishnoi ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Rajasthan Royals might target Ravi Bishnoi at the IPL 2026 auction, but won't be able to acquire him.

"I am looking at spinners. You have got a left-arm spinner in Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), but at least two more will be required. A leg-spinner is required, and if they get an off-spinner, it will be icing on the cake. Which leg-spinners can they go towards? They will go towards Ravi Bishnoi for some time, but they won't get Ravi Bishnoi because they don't have that much money," he said.

While naming Rahul Chahar as another leg-spinner RR might target, the cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned they might have to settle for Karn Sharma.

"Then they could go towards Rahul Chahar, but they might not get Rahul Chahar either. Both Rahul Chahar and Ravi Bishnoi have a connection with Rajasthan. I see Karn Sharma as another option. They will need at least one of these three for sure. I feel they will acquire Karn Sharma in the end," Chopra observed.

To conclude, Aakash Chopra noted that the Rajasthan Royals might look to reacquire Maheesh Theekshana, as they have a vacant overseas slot. However, the analyst opined that the Sri Lankan spinner might return to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).