Royal Challengers Bengaluru saw their wait for the Indian Premier League title come to an end as they sealed their maiden crown in 2025. In five of the last 6 seasons, RCB have reached the playoffs and got to one final, which they won. Building on this, RCB will be keen to go strong and long. The IPL 2026 mini-auction saw RCB add a few key personnel to their already decent squad. There were a few hits and misses in terms of recruitment, but the Challengers will feel they have the overall resources to come good.

At the mini-auction, RCB got former KKR batsman Venkatesh Iyer, opening INR 7 crore on him. RCB spent heavily on uncapped Indian Mangesh Yadav and got a few more young Indian recruits. Meanwhile, two foreign recruits were snapped up by Jacob Duffy and Jordon Cox.

RCB full squad

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan.

RCB Retained Players List

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma.

Players purchased by RCB at the mini-auction

Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan.

Who are the key players in RCB’s squad?

Virat Kohli: 37-year-old Kohli scored 657 runs in IPL 2025 at 54.75. He was RCB’s top scorer last season, shining with 8 fifties. Kohli is a vital cog for RCB and holds their batting. He is the top scorer in IPL with 8661 runs at 39.54. He owns 8 tons and 63 fifties.

Rajat Patidar:He led RCB to their maiden IPL win last season, and his captaincy will once again aid the side. With senior players like Kohli to assist him, Patidar will be keen to replicate the show both as a batsman and a leader.

Jacob Bethell: We all saw how the promising Englishman almost ended India’s run in the semis of the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup. He scored a massive hundred. RCB have a special player in Bethell, and he can be a menace in that middle order.

Strengths of the RCB Squad for IPL

Batting is RCB’s strength once again this season, and they can count upon what looks like a promising unit. RCB’s bases are covered from top to finishers. RCB have a formidable opening pair in Kohli and Phil Salt. RCB can expect fast starts with Salt being at the helm of matters. The opening pair can complement each other.

Bethell can be used at number three. He is a fearsome cricketer and can bring in match-winning attributes. Notably, the side also has Devdutt Padikkal as an option too. Padikkal has been amongst the runs in domestic cricket of late. So RCB’s number three base is well covered.

Patidar is another massive figure who can bat at number four. He can be the fulcrum of the side. He is known for his big-hitting attributes and also playing sensible cricket when needed. Venkatesh Iyer’s signing means RCB get another strong batter in that middle order. Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya and Tim David are the finishers the side boasts of.

Not to forget, there is Romario Shepherd as well. He can be used as a floater. It means RCB bat deep which is a massive plus. 

RCB’s all-rounders list is positive. Krunal and Shepherd can give the side quality overs besides offering quality with the bat. Uncapped Mangesh, who RCB spent a lot of money on, is another all-rounder in the mix. Swapnil Singh and Bethell can be utilised as well if needed as all-rounders.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead this RCB attack. He has plenty of experience. Josh Hazlewood is also in the mix. Hazlewood will offer substance. Nuwan Thusara is another key pacer in the ranks alongside New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy.

Weaknesses of RCB

Spin is RCB’s main weakness. They are heavily reliant on bowling all-rounder Pandya. He picked 17 scalps for RCB last season, and a lot will depend on his attributes. RCB’s other spin option, who is likely to feature alongside Pandya, is Suyash Sharma. A promising youngster, Suyash averaged a dismal 55.25 from 14 games last season and was also costly.

On the bench, RCB lack bite with no notable names. 

Another problem for RCB is the lack of quality Indian pacers, barring Bhuvi. Notably, they had Yash Dayal, but legal issues mean he is likely to miss the IPL 2026 season. If this happens, RCB will suffer big time.

RCB spent a whopping INR 6 crore on inexperienced Rasikh Salam Dar during the IPL 2025 mega-auction. However, he played only 2 games last season and picked a single wicket.

Hazlewood is also set to miss the initial stages of IPL 2026 with an injury. He hasn’t played in a long time, and it remains to be seen how things shape up when he returns.

With Dayal’s exclusion and Hazlewood set to miss the early stages of IPL, RCB will now be forced to tweak things, which may see them sacrifice a batter and get a bowler to find the right balance.

Probable playing XI of RCB

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma. Nuwan Thushara.

Who can be RCB’s impact players?

With the Impact Player rule, teams can name five substitutes and use one of them when needed. If four foreign players are already named in the XI, the impact player can only be an Indian. RCB’s best balance is the above-mentioned starting XI owing to the resources. So if they bat first, Padikkal will fit in. And then during bowling, he could be replaced by someone like Rasikh. 

IPL 2026: RCB will feel things a bit difficult with their bowling

RCB’s lack of bench strength in Indian names seems to be a worry in both batting and bowling. The spin factor, as mentioned above, remains a weak link. Hazlewood’s absence will be felt initially, and if Dayal misses out, it’s a massive blow. RCB’s bowling is a weak link with the issues at large. A lot will rely on all-rounders Shepherd and Pandya.

FAQs about the RCB Squad for IPL 2026

Who is the captain of RCB for IPL 2026?

Rajat Patidar will lead the RCB side in IPL 2026.

When was RCB’s squad announced?

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced their full squad for the IPL 2026 season following the mini-auction on December 16, 2025.

Who are the new players in the squad?

Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra and Kanishk Chouhan are the new players in RCB’s squad.

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