Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), fresh off their IPL 2025 title victory, have officially submitted their list of retained and released players ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The deadline for submission was November 15th, and the franchise has made some strategic decisions in preparation for the upcoming season.
Retained Players
RCB has opted to retain a strong core of players who contributed significantly to their championship run. The retained list features a blend of experience and youth, with a focus on maintaining the team's balance. Key retentions include:
- Rajat Patidar: The captain will continue to lead the side, solidifying his position as a key figure in the team's batting lineup.
- Virat Kohli: The legendary batter remains an integral part of RCB, providing stability and firepower to the batting order.
- Phil Salt: The overseas wicket-keeper batter is retained for his explosive batting and valuable contributions behind the stumps.
- Devdutt Padikkal: The talented young batter is seen as a long-term prospect and is retained to bolster the batting lineup.
- Jitesh Sharma: Another wicket-keeping option who provides depth and flexibility to the squad.
- Tim David: The hard-hitting all-rounder adds significant value with his ability to finish games and contribute with the ball.
- Krunal Pandya: His all-round skills and experience in the middle order make him a valuable asset.
- Josh Hazlewood: The premier fast bowler will continue to lead the pace attack, providing crucial breakthroughs and control.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Adds experience and skill to the pace attack.
- Suyash Sharma: A young talent who the team sees potential in.
Other retained players include Mayank Agarwal, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, Swastik Chikara, and Manoj Bhandage.
Released Players
To create purse space and potentially address specific areas of need, RCB has released several players. Notable releases include:
- Liam Livingstone:
- Yash Dayal:.
- Swapnil Singh:.
- Rasikh Salam Dar:.
Other released players include Mohit Rathee and Abhinandan Singh.
Auction Strategy
With a remaining purse of approximately ₹20-25 crore, RCB will be looking to strategically target specific areas in the upcoming mini-auction scheduled for December 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. According to reports, RCB's management is focusing on:
- Adding a left-handed finisher to strengthen the middle order.
- Securing a solid Indian pacer to support Hazlewood and Kumar.
- Looking for a backup overseas spinner to provide variety to the bowling attack.
- Investing in young domestic batting talent to build for the future.
IPL 2026: Key Rule Changes
It's important to note a few key changes for the IPL 2026 season:
- No Cap on Retentions: Unlike mega-auctions, teams can retain as many players as they want, provided they adhere to the salary cap.
- Salary Cap: The salary purse limit is INR 120 crore.
- Squad Size: Each team can have a maximum of 25 players, including a maximum of eight overseas players.
- Trading Window: The trading window is open and will remain open until one week before the auction. Trades can involve players or all-cash deals.
RCB's strategic retentions and planned auction approach indicate their intent to build upon their recent success and remain a strong contender in the IPL.
