Rajasthan Royals Kick Off Pre-Season Training for IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals have officially begun their pre-season training camp in Jaipur as they prepare for the IPL 2026 season. Starting March 17, the team will engage in various training and fitness sessions under the guidance of Kumar Sangakkara. This camp marks the first gathering of the full squad, including new recruits like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Additionally, the Royals are set to face Chennai Super Kings in their season opener on March 30, following a significant trade that saw Sanju Samson move to CSK. Read on for more details about the team's preparations and trades.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 17:40 IST

Pre-Season Training Begins

On Friday, Rajasthan Royals (RR) announced the launch of their first pre-season training camp in Jaipur, gearing up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

The training camp will commence on March 17, with the team gathering in Pink City for various training, fitness, and net sessions at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Led by Head Coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara, the camp aims to enhance team cohesion, provide rigorous training, and include strength and conditioning sessions.

Previously, a select group of players, such as Ravi Bishnoi, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sandeep Sharma, and recently acquired Ravindra Jadeja, participated in a brief fitness assessment at the franchise's High Performance Centre in Nagpur.

This Jaipur camp will be the first occasion for the entire Royals squad, including new signings like Jadeja and Sam Curran, to unite ahead of the season.

Opening Match Against CSK

The team is expected to head to Guwahati on March 26, 2026, for their opening match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30, as per the schedule released by the IPL Governing Council.

Significant Off-Season Trade

In a notable off-season move, the Rajasthan Royals participated in one of the largest trades in IPL history ahead of the 2026 season.

Sanju Samson, who has been a key player for the Royals for over a decade, was traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a sum of Rs 18 crores, transitioning to the yellow jersey.

In exchange, English player Sam Curran and India's experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were brought to the Royals.

Jadeja's salary will decrease from Rs 18 crores (at CSK) to Rs 14 crores (at RR), while Curran will maintain his current salary of Rs 2.4 crores.