Royal Challengers Bengaluru begin their IPL 2026 campaign as defending champions after their successful 2025 title win. The franchise faces a critical retention phase ahead of the December mini-auction. RCB has chosen to retain its core group of players who delivered consistent performances last season, including Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Josh Hazlewood, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, several high-value overseas players have been released to create purse space. The team retained finishers Tim David and Romario Shepherd while parting ways with names like Liam Livingstone. Beyond squad decisions, RCB confronts significant off-field uncertainties. Diageo's strategic review has put the franchise ownership up for sale, attracting multiple bidders. Additionally, safety concerns following a tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium after their victory parade may force the team to relocate, with Pune emerging as a possible temporary home venue for the upcoming season.
Squad Changes and Retention Strategy
RCB retained 17 players from their championship squad, maintaining continuity in their lineup. Key retentions include batters Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal, wicketkeepers Phil Salt and Jitesh Sharma, and bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Nuwan Thushara. All-rounders Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, and Jacob Bethell were also kept. The franchise released eight players, including overseas all-rounder Liam Livingstone, batters Mayank Agarwal and Swastik Chikara, and fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani. Unlike other teams actively pursuing trades, RCB remained relatively quiet. The franchise enters the mini-auction with a remaining purse of 16.2 crore to address any gaps in their squad composition.
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