Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is set for an emotional homecoming in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season after the Rajasthan Royals secured his services for a whopping Rs 7.2 crore at the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The 25-year-old, who was released by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after the 2025 season, described the move as a 'ghar wapsi' (homecoming) and is relishing the prospect of playing in front of his family and home supporters.
The High-Stakes Bidding War
As soon as auctioneer Mallika Sagar announced Bishnoi's name with a base price of Rs 2 crore, the Rajasthan Royals opened the bidding aggressively. The competition intensified when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the fray. The two franchises engaged in a fierce back-and-forth until the Royals finally emerged victorious at the Rs 7.2 crore mark, securing the talented spinner for the upcoming season.
"Excited to be back home. Ghar wapsi hai meri (It is my homecoming)," Bishnoi told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview. "I started as a net bowler from here and life has come a long way. I always dreamt of playing for my home franchise, and now that dream has come true."
A Journey Through IPL Franchises
Bishnoi, who has taken 72 wickets in 77 IPL matches, reflected on his journey. He began his IPL career with the Punjab Kings before moving to the Lucknow Super Giants, where he spent four seasons. He was retained by LSG for Rs 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction but was released after a season where he managed nine wickets in 11 games.
The spinner expressed gratitude towards his former captains, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, for their guidance and trust. "They always said, 'Jo karna hai kar, apni field laga. I trust you (Do what you want to do, set your field. I trust you).' The best thing was that they both were keepers, and a lot of guidance and tips came from behind the wickets," Bishnoi recalled.
Eyes Set on Home Support and Deadly Combo
For Bishnoi, the hefty price tag is secondary to the opportunity to play in Jaipur. "The price tag is nothing in front of playing in front of your home crowd," he stated. He is particularly excited about forming a spin partnership with the experienced Ravindra Jadeja. "I am really excited for that deadly combo. He has got a lot of experience... His experience will matter a lot in IPL 2026," Bishnoi added.
On his bowling evolution, Bishnoi emphasized continuous improvement. "Googly is my main weapon. But with age, I have worked on my variations... You need to grind really hard to stay in contention. You need to keep improving day by day and bring something new," he explained, highlighting his rigorous practice ethic.
As he signs off, his focus is clear: "All I want is to hear cheers from my home fans. I am really eager to go out in the middle and play in front of my home crowd." The Rajasthan Royals' investment reflects their faith in Bishnoi's ability to deliver memorable performances and crucial wickets in the upcoming season.
