Fresh from their historic maiden Indian Premier League triumph, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have unveiled their squad for the IPL 2026 season. The franchise opted for stability, choosing to retain the core of their championship-winning side during the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
RCB's Retention Strategy and Auction Purse
The Bengaluru-based franchise made a strategic decision to keep faith in the group that finally brought them the coveted trophy. RCB retained 17 players from their previous squad, entering the auction with a purse of Rs 16.40 crore. This amount was the fourth lowest among all teams at the start of the auction day, only more than the Mumbai Indians (Rs 2.75 crore), Punjab Kings (Rs 11.50 crore), and the Rajasthan Royals (Rs 16.05 crore).
The funds were primarily generated by releasing six players. The notable departures include England's powerful all-rounder Liam Livingstone and South Africa's pace bowler Lungi Ngidi. The franchise also released Indian players Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Agarwal, Mohit Rathee, and Sachin Baby.
The Full RCB Squad for IPL 2026
The retained players list features a mix of experienced stalwarts and promising talent. The group is led by captain Rajat Patidar and includes the legendary Virat Kohli. The batting firepower is further bolstered by the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt, while the all-round duties will be handled by Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd.
The wicketkeeping responsibilities rest with Jitesh Sharma. The spin department features Suyash Sharma and Swapnil Singh, supported by the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the promise of young Abhinandan Singh in the pace battery. The full list of retained players is:
- Abhinandan Singh
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Jacob Bethell
- Jitesh Sharma
- Josh Hazlewood
- Krunal Pandya
- Nuwan Thushara
- Phil Salt
- Rajat Patidar (Captain)
- Rasikh Dar
- Romario Shepherd
- Suyash Sharma
- Swapnil Singh
- Tim David
- Virat Kohli
- Yash Dayal
The players signed during the IPL 2026 mini-auction are to be updated shortly, completing the squad.
The Challenge of Title Defence and Bowling Concerns
Having ended their long wait for an IPL crown, RCB now faces the formidable challenge of defending the title. The team management has consciously avoided major changes to the winning combination. However, a potential area of concern is the depth in the fast bowling department.
Josh Hazlewood's injury and workload management remain a significant worry for the team think-tank. Furthermore, pacer Yash Dayal has not played any professional cricket since the conclusion of the last IPL season, raising questions about match readiness. How the team manages these resources could be crucial in their campaign to become only the third team to successfully defend the IPL championship.
The decision to maintain squad continuity underscores RCB's belief in their championship formula. All eyes will now be on whether this settled unit can replicate their success and handle the increased pressure that comes with being the defending champions in the world's most competitive T20 league.
