After a successful IPL 2025, RCB doesn’t need to make big changes before IPL 2026. They had a good team last season and just need to fill some gaps.
RCB’s strength means that weaknesses weren’t visible. opposition teams will come back stronger next year. As the defending champions, RCB needs to think about adding some quality players to stay ahead. The good news is there will be some good options available in the auction.
Some players didn’t live up to their price tags last season:
- Liam Livingstone: Cost 8.75 crore but didn’t perform well, average of 16 with the bat and a strike rate of 133. He took 2 wickets. Too expensive for what he brought to the team so might be released.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Cost 10.75 crore and took 17 wickets. The team would have hoped for more. At this point in his career he doesn’t seem to be performing at his peak. His price tag might be too high.
- Rasikh Salam: Cost 6 crore but didn’t play many games. While talented, he’s too expensive to keep as a backup option.
- Nuwan Thushara: RCB paid INR 1.60 crore for him in the IPL 2025 auction but he only played one game. He took a wicket. He conceded 26 runs in the game against Lucknow Super Giants.
- Lungi Ngidi The South African fast bowler played in 2018 season with Chennai where he take 11 wickets in seven innings, and grabbed four wickets in two innings at an economy rate of over 10 for RCB. With not many chances and no big plays, RCB may let him go at the next auction
Here’s who RCB will probably keep for IPL 2026:
RCB has a strong core group of players they will retain: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Swastik Chikara, Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya, Manoj Bhandage, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal and Mayank Agarwal
Released by RCB:
Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, Tim Seifert, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam, Swapnil Singh, Nuwan Thushara and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Auction Purse
If RCB releases the above players they will free up around 31.95 crore. That will give them a good amount to spend in the IPL 2026 auction.
