IPL 2026: 3 players RR underutilised this season

Rajasthan Royals (RR) entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season with a youthful and promising squad. Despite having one of the youngest teams in the competition, they produced an impressive campaign, finishing fourth in the league stage. RR went on to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator before their journey ended with a defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2. While the franchise got several decisions right throughout the season, there were a few players who could have been used more effectively.

Here are three players underutilised by Rajasthan Royals:

Dasun Shanaka

Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka is one player who never got a consistent opportunity to showcase his full potential. Shanaka featured in seven matches, scoring 63 runs and picking up just one wicket. Most of his batting opportunities came in the final overs of the innings, leaving him with very little time to settle and make an impact.

He is known for his ability to accelerate against both pace, spin and could have been promoted up the batting order in certain matches. Giving him more time at the crease might have allowed him to play match-defining knocks. In addition, RR could have utilised his medium-pace bowling more frequently, especially on surfaces that offered assistance to seamers.

Sandeep Sharma

Veteran pacer Sandeep Sharma was another player who seemed underutilised during the season. One of the most experienced bowlers in the IPL, Sandeep has built a reputation for delivering breakthroughs with the new ball and maintaining disciplined lines. However, he featured in only six matches and claimed five wickets.

While those numbers are respectable, they do not fully reflect his abilities. RR often struggled for early wickets in some games, and Sandeep’s expertise in swing bowling could have provided solutions. More opportunities might have helped him build rhythm and contribute significantly to the team’s bowling attack.

Ravi Bishnoi

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also falls into the category of underutilised players. RR invested INR 7.20 crore in acquiring the talented spinner, yet he did not enjoy a consistent run in the playing XI. Bishnoi played nine matches and picked up 11 wickets, but his economy rate of 9.88 was affected by conditions that did not always suit his style of bowling.

Despite that, he remained a genuine wicket-taking option in the middle overs. With greater backing and more opportunities, Bishnoi could have turned matches in RR’s favour through his ability to break crucial partnerships and apply pressure on opposition batters.