End Of Road For Shimron Hetmyer; Players Rajasthan Royals Should Release Before – End of the Road for Shimron Hetmyer? 5 Players Rajasthan Royals Must Release Before IPL 2027

The Heartbreak of IPL 2026: A Roller-Coaster Season for Rajasthan Royals

The Rajasthan Royals saw their dreams of clinching the IPL 2026 title shattered in dramatic fashion. Under the leadership of Riyan Parag, the squad crashed out of the tournament in Qualifier 2 after Gujarat Titans pulled off a historic run chase to book their spot in the final. It was a bitter pill to swallow for a franchise that had shown glimpses of absolute brilliance alongside frustrating inconsistency throughout the season.

The campaign started on a perfect note. The Royals came roaring out of the gates, securing four consecutive victories and positioning themselves as early title favorites. However, the momentum quickly stalled as back-to-back defeats forced them into a mid-season scramble for the highly competitive fourth playoff spot. What followed was a grueling phase where every match felt like a do-or-die battle. The 2008 champions eventually secured their playoff berth by defeating the Mumbai Indians in a high-stakes final group-stage encounter. From there, they stunned fans and analysts alike by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the playoffs, only to fall agonizingly short in the penultimate hurdle against Gujarat Titans.

The Silver Lining: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Historic Run

Amidst the collective heartbreak, the emergence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stood out as the undisputed highlight of the season. The talented left-handed batsman earned widespread acclaim across the cricketing world, finishing the edition as the leading run-scorer. With an incredible tally of 776 runs in 15 innings, Sooryavanshi provided the Royals with explosive starts and unmatched consistency at the top of the order.

Unfortunately, while Sooryavanshi carried the batting unit, several high-profile stars failed to rise to the occasion. As the franchise sets its sights on the IPL 2027 cycle, a major squad shake-up is inevitable. To build a balanced team capable of going all the way, the Rajasthan Royals management must make some ruthless decisions and release several underperforming, high-salary players.

5 Players Rajasthan Royals Must Release Before the IPL 2027 Auction

1. Shimron Hetmyer (11 Crores)

Releasing the Caribbean big-hitter Shimron Hetmyer is arguably the most straightforward decision for the Royals’ front office. Retained at a premium price of 11 crores, Hetmyer completely failed to justify his heavy price tag in IPL 2026. The left-hander featured in just 7 innings, managing a meager 78 runs at a disappointing average of 13.00. Alarmingly, he failed to record a single score of 30 or more throughout the campaign.

This was not an isolated slump. Hetmyer’s struggles trace back to the IPL 2025 season, where he managed only 239 runs across 13 innings at an average of 21.73. With two underwhelming seasons in a row, the 29-year-old’s spot in the middle order is no longer viable. Cutting ties with Hetmyer will immediately restore 11 crores back into the franchise’s purse.

2. Ravi Bishnoi (7.2 Crores)

In what might come as a surprise to many, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi could also find himself on the chopping block. Signed for 7.2 crores, Bishnoi had an incredibly polarized IPL 2026 campaign. He started the tournament on fire, picking up 9 wickets in the first four matches and wearing the coveted Purple Cap. However, his form plummeted drastically after that electric start, yielding just 2 wickets in his subsequent five appearances.

As Bishnoi struggled to maintain control and pick up wickets in the middle overs, the team management pivoted. The Rajasthan Royals began fielding Yash Punja as their primary spinner, leaving the highly paid Bishnoi on the bench. Paying 7.2 crores for a backup spinner is a luxury the Royals cannot afford heading into IPL 2027.

3. Tushar Deshpande (6.5 Crores)

Secured for 6.5 crores, fast bowler Tushar Deshpande is another player whose price tag far outweighed his on-field impact. The former Chennai Super Kings bowler struggled to find consistency and was often targetted by opposition batsmen. His only notable contribution of the season was a high-pressure final over against Gujarat Titans, where he successfully defended 9 runs to seal a tense victory.

Beyond that single heroic moment, Deshpande’s statistics paint a grim picture. He managed a mere 4 wickets in 7 innings, leaking runs at an expensive economy rate of 11.96, while recording a high strike-rate of 34.00. For a frontline bowler costing 6.5 crores, these numbers are simply unacceptable.

4. Sandeep Sharma (4 Crores)

Sandeep Sharma has been a reliable servant in the IPL over the years, but his IPL 2026 campaign suggested that his time with the Royals is coming to an end. Valued at 4 crores, the medium-pacer struggled to make inroads with the ball, claiming just 5 wickets in 6 innings. More concerning was his economy rate, which ballooned to 11.39.

Sandeep was dropped from the playing XI midway through the season, a clear indication that he is no longer viewed as a key component of the team’s bowling plans. Releasing him will free up valuable funds to scout fresher, more economical pace options.

5. Adam Milne (2.4 Crores)

New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne had a virtually non-existent role in the Royals’ IPL 2026 campaign. The Kiwi speedster was handed just a single opportunity against the Delhi Capitals, which turned out to be a forgettable outing. Milne conceded 41 runs in just 3.2 overs without taking a single wicket, as the Royals fell to a defeat. At 2.4 crores, keeping him on the roster makes little sense when the franchise needs to entirely reconstruct its bowling unit.

The Strategic Financial Windfall: A 31.1 Crore Reconstruction Plan

If the Rajasthan Royals make the tough calls and release these five players, they will generate a massive financial windfall ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Let’s look at the math behind the potential purse boost:

• Shimron Hetmyer: 11.0 Crores
• Ravi Bishnoi: 7.2 Crores
• Tushar Deshpande: 6.5 Crores
• Sandeep Sharma: 4.0 Crores
• Adam Milne: 2.4 Crores
• Total Freed Purse: 31.1 Crores

With an extra 31.1 crores back in their war chest, the Royals can completely re-engineer their bowling department, which proved to be their Achilles’ heel in the latter half of IPL 2026. By building a highly competitive and balanced squad around established stars like Riyan Parag and the sensational Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Rajasthan Royals can position themselves as genuine championship contenders for the IPL 2027 season.