IPL 2026 auction: How Royal Challengers Bengaluru stack up
What's the story
The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction is set to take place on December 16. More than 300 players will go under the hammer as teams look to complete their rosters. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, have a remaining purse of ₹16.40 crore ahead of the bidding event. Eyeing a few power-packed players, they can fill in a maximum of eight slots.
Players released
Players released and purse remaining
Reigning champions RCB have released big guns Liam Livingstone and Lungi Ngidi. The Rajat Patidar-led side also parted ways with batter Mayank Agarwal, who had come in as a replacement for the injured Devdutt Padikkal. Players released: Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, and Mohit Rathee. Purse remaining: ₹16.40 crore.
Information
Players retained by RCB
Players retained: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethell, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Dar, and Swapnil Singh.
Strategy
Road ahead for the Royal Challengers
Although RCB have eight slots to fill, only two more overseas names can be added to their roster for IPL 2026. They might target an overseas fast bowler, a potential back-up for Josh Hazlewood, who has a history of getting injured. The Royal Challengers can also target a few spinners to strengthen the attack led by Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma.
IPL 2025
How RCB fared in IPL 2025
Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted history this year with their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a high-octane final in Ahmedabad. RCB also became the first team to win all their away league matches in an IPL season. They also ended a 17-year-long wait for a win at Chepauk. Notably, RCB saw nine different players win player-of-the-match awards this season.