as Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 nearing the end of his tenure, franchises continue to shuffle their rosters in response to injury setbacks and availability concerns. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) now they have made major additions to the pace department ahead of the crucial final stage of the competition.
RCB rope in Richard Gleeson for the remainder of IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have signed the experienced England fast bowler Richard Gleeson As a replacement for the Sri Lankan pacer Nuvan Thushara. The Bengaluru-based franchise secured the services of the 38-year-old seamer for INR 1.6 crore. Thushara was unavailable for the season as he dealt with injury concerns and later failed to get the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket. As a result, RCB were forced to explore overseas pace bowling options ahead of the play-off run.
Gleeson brings valuable franchise cricket experience to the squad. The right-arm pacer has represented both Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians (MI) has featured in previous IPL seasons and also in six T20Is Englandwhere he collected nine wickets. Known for his ability to hit heavy lengths and variations at the death, Gleeson adds depth to an already impressive RCB bowling attack.
After Khaleel Ahmed’s injury, CSK signed Kuldeep Yadav
Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, brought in the Indian pacer Kuldeep Yadav as a substitute for Khalil Ahmedwill be ruled out for the rest of IPL 2026 with a right quadriceps injury. Khaleel got injured during the match against CSK Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) At the MA Chidambaram Stadium at the start of the tournament. The left-armer was quickly seen in visible discomfort during his spell and eventually left the field before being officially sent off afterwards.
CSK signed Kuldip for INR 30 lakh to fill the vacancy. The medium-pacer had earlier made his debut for the IPL Rajasthan Royals (RR) 2021 and participated in a total of three IPL matches. While he remains relatively inexperienced at the highest level, the franchise sees him as a promising local option who could contribute with the ball in the second half of the season.
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Both teams are looking to strengthen their pace departments
With the playoffs heating up, both franchises will be hoping their new additions settle into the team environment quickly. While CSK is struggling with injuries to many key players, RCB continues to strengthen the squad with impressive consistency throughout IPL 2026.
For Kuldeep, the move is a fresh opportunity to revive his IPL career, while Gleeson’s experience in franchise cricket could be valuable for RCB in the crucial final stage of the tournament.
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