After finally ending their trophy drought and clinching the IPL 2025 title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enter IPL 2026 with renewed confidence and a clear strategy. The franchise has made some tough calls by releasing a few high-profile names while retaining a strong core led by star batter Rajat Patidar, who was also captain during the historic 2025 season.
With the IPL 2026 mini-auction approaching, let’s take a look at the RCB retained and released players list, the latest squad update, and what the team might aim for at the auction table.
RCB Retained Players List for IPL 2026
RCB has focused on continuity, youth, and a balanced mix of experience. Their retained core includes legends, rising stars, all-rounders, and pace firepower. Here’s the list:
Retention Strategy Highlights:
- Star Indian core: Kohli, Patidar, and Mayank remain untouched.
- Overseas firepower: Salt, David, and Hazlewood stay.
- Young domestic talent backed: Swastik Chhikara, Jacob Bethell, and others retained.
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Full Retained Players List
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Rajat Patidar (c) | Batter |
| Virat Kohli | Batter |
| Phil Salt | WK-Batter |
| Jitesh Sharma | WK-Batter |
| Swastik Chhikara | Batter |
| Tim David | All-Rounder |
| Krunal Pandya | All-Rounder |
| Romario Shepherd | All-Rounder |
| Josh Hazlewood | Bowler |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler |
| Suyash Sharma | Bowler |
| Yash Dayal | Bowler |
| Mayank Agarwal | Batter |
| Jacob Bethell | All-Rounder |
| Manoj Bhandage | All-Rounder |
| Abhinandan Singh | Bowler |
| Mohit Rathee | Bowler |
RCB Released Players List for IPL 2026
Despite being the defending champions, RCB has taken bold steps by letting go of underperformers and expensive signings who failed to deliver.
Key Reasons for Releases:
- High cost, low returns: Players like Liam Livingstone didn’t justify their price tag.
- Strategic depth: RCB is freeing up slots for death-over specialists and middle-order backups.
Full Released Players List
| Player Name | Reason for Release |
|---|---|
| Liam Livingstone | Poor returns – 112 runs in 10 matches |
| Rasikh Salam Dar | Expensive economy, only 1 wicket |
| Tim Seifert | Temporary replacement, not retained |
| Nuwan Thushara | Only 1 match played, expensive spell |
| Swapnil Singh | Similar role as Krunal Pandya – overlap |
| Yash Dayal (rumored) | High average despite 13 wickets |
| Lungi Ngidi | No major impact in bowling lineup |
| Mohit Rathee | Sparing use, no major performance |
| Abhinandan Singh | Didn’t feature in IPL 2025 |
RCB Auction Strategy for IPL 2026
Having cleared out a few names, RCB is likely to:
- Target a middle-order batter who can finish games (Livingstone’s replacement).
- Seek death-over bowlers with better economy and experience.
- Pick an uncapped domestic pacer to build bench strength.
- Keep eyes on underrated all-rounders or high-impact overseas picks.
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Final RCB Squad (So Far) for IPL 2026
Here’s how RCB’s current retained squad looks ahead of the mini-auction:
Squad Overview
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Swastik Chhikara |
| WK-Batters | Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma |
| All-Rounders | Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Bethell |
| Bowlers | Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee |
Conclusion
RCB heads into IPL 2026 with a clear vision—retain the champion core, fix the gaps in the middle and death, and invest wisely during the auction. With a strong leadership group, exciting young players, and momentum on their side, the defending champions will be one of the teams to beat.
Note: The above retained and released player lists for RCB ahead of the IPL 2026 auction are based on expected internal discussions and recent reports. An official announcement from the franchise is still awaited. Player changes may occur as the auction approaches.
