with Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Suresh Raina has created a buzz by revealing his predicted playing eleven for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the tournament starting on March 28. His selections included some bold calls – most notably placing Ravindra Jadeja at No. 4 and indicating the possible omission of Sam Curran.
With Rajasthan set to begin their campaign against CSK at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on March 30, Raina’s XI offers an intriguing glimpse of how the inaugural champions could shape up this season.
Suresh Raina announces RR’s playing XI for IPL 2026
Raina started with a strong and exciting opening pair – young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi along with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Young talented Suryavanshi is already making headlines for his fearless batting and big ambitions after a remarkable U19 World Cup campaign. Pairing him with Jaiswal gives RR an aggressive left-handed opening combination capable of dominating the powerplay.
At No. 3, Raina kept captain Riyan Parag, describing him as an aggressive option who can break the rhythm after two left-handed batsmen at the top. With Parag coming into the leadership role after Sanju Samson’s departure to CSK, the responsibility on his shoulders will be significant.
The biggest surprise in Raina’s eleven came at number 4, where he got the place Ravindra Jadeja. Traditionally known as a lower-order finisher, Jadeja’s promotion suggests a more strategic role in stabilizing the innings while maintaining the scoring pace.
“Ravindra Jadeja can easily come at number 4,” Raina said.
The move reflects Raina’s confidence in Jadeja’s ability to handle the innings while also providing pace when required – a role that could add flexibility to RR’s batting lineup.
In the middle order, Shimron Hetmyer occupies the No. 5 position as the designated finisher. Hetmyer, famous for his explosive hitting, plays an important role in finishing the innings strongly. Behind him, Dhruv Jurel is expected to handle the wicketkeeping duties while adding stability at No. 6.
RR bowling strategy
One of the most talked about aspects of Raina’s predicted eleven is the uncertainty over Sam Curran’s place in the team. Despite being a high-profile all-rounder, Raina suggested that RR could opt for a different overseas combination.
“I think that’s the team that will play. Maybe they won’t play with Sam Curran and Ferreira can come in.” He added.
This opens the door to make room for Donovan Ferreira depending on the team balance and match conditions. It is a difficult decision given Curran’s all-round abilities, but it reflects the competition for overseas spots in the team.
Raina’s overseas choices include Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Nandre Berger and Curran or Ferreira. The combination leans towards a strong pace attack, particularly suited to Guwahati conditions.
As predicted by Raina, the bowling unit is highly pace-oriented. Along with Archer and Berger, they also included Tushar Deshpande and Sandeep Sharma. This four-seamer setup suggests that RR can take advantage of pace-friendly surfaces early in the tournament.
As an impact player, Raina chose Ravi Bishnoi, giving the team the option to introduce spin depending on the match conditions. Bishnoi’s ability to take wickets in the middle overs makes him a valuable tactical weapon.
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