Former cricketer Aakash Chopra made a humorous remark about Royal Challengers Bengaluru releasing young batter Swastik Chikara ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Chikara became widely known among fans last season for being one of Virat Kohli's biggest admirers within the RCB camp. Despite being part of the squad, he did not play a single match but was frequently spotted following Kohli during practice sessions, team photos, and celebrations. His visible admiration for the star batter turned into a popular talking point on social media. Chopra commented that Chikara will no longer be seen in Kohli's photos now that RCB has released him. The defending champions retained 17 players and released seven, including Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, and Lungi Ngidi. RCB won their maiden IPL trophy in 2025 after a 17-year wait and head into the auction with INR 16.40 crore and eight available slots.
RCB's retention strategy and Chikara's release
Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained 17 players, including Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Tim David. Head coach Andy Flower stated the team did not require major changes and preferred keeping their strong core intact. Among the seven released players, Swastik Chikara's name stood out. Picked for INR 30 lakh in IPL 2025, he never featured in the playing XI but gained attention for his constant presence around Kohli. Fans often noticed him eagerly following the Indian superstar during training and celebrations. Aakash Chopra joked on his YouTube channel that Chikara will no longer appear in Kohli's photos. Other released players include Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, Manoj Bhandage, Blessing Muzarabani, and Mohit Rathee.
Source: Link