General
Ravi Bishnoi may not have delivered consistently in recent IPL seasons, but his skill set continues to command strong demand. Bishnoi entered the IPL 2026 auction with a base price of ₹2 crore and finally went to Rajasthan Royals for ₹7.20 crore after an intense 27-bid battle.
The bidding saw fierce competition primarily between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with SRH pushing the price up to ₹7 crore at one point. Other franchises like Chennai Super Kings also joined in the fray, but RR consistently outbid them at every stage, with the price climbing in increments from ₹2.40 crore to ₹7.20 crore.
The auction trail highlighted the high demand for Bishnoi’s wrist-spin skills, reflecting both his potential impact in T20 cricket and the aggressive strategy of Rajasthan Royals to secure him for their 2026 campaign.
Bishnoi first joined the IPL as an uncapped player when Lucknow Super Giants acquired him in 2022. LSG showed immense faith by retaining him for a hefty ₹11 crore ahead of last year’s mega auction. However, his returns did not quite match expectations, and his numbers were underwhelming by his own standards. Despite that, Rajasthan Royals’ aggressive bid underlines their belief in Bishnoi’s potential and his ability to make an impact in the middle overs.
One of Bishnoi’s biggest strengths is his wrist-spin, a rare and valuable asset in T20 cricket. Both Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad were keen to add a wrist-spinner who could control the flow of runs and pick up wickets during the middle phase — something Bishnoi has shown he can do on his day.
The 25-year-old Jodhpur-born bowler brings solid experience, having made his IPL debut in 2020. Across 77 matches, he has taken 72 wickets at an average of 30.96, with an economy rate of 8.22, which is respectable in the T20 format.
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Now with a new franchise, Bishnoi faces the challenge of proving his worth in Rajasthan Royals’ setup. A strong IPL 2026 could not only justify their faith but also reopen the door to a return to the national side. For that to happen, Bishnoi will need to rediscover his wicket-taking edge and deliver when it matters most.