This Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 The auction is just around the corner and the defending champions Royal Paintings Bengaluru (RCB) will once again be in the spotlight. After winning, the 2025 Girls IPL title under Capitary Rajat PatidarRCB will go into the auction with renewed confidence and determination to build a stronger unit. The franchise, known for its star-studded outfits and bold bidding decisions, is expected to make some aggressive and strategic moves in the upcoming auction.
Over the years, RCB has earned a reputation for shelling out big bucks to marquee players. From signing global icons Kevin Petersen and Yuvraj Singh investing heavily in international comprehensives such as Kyle Jamieson and Chris MorrisThe franchise has always aimed to strike a perfect balance between mischief and firepower. Ahead of the 2026 auction, let’s revisit RCB’s costliest buys in every IPL season since RCB’s inception.
From Kevin Pietersen’s Arrival to Yuvraj Singh’s Mega Deal – RCB’s Roller Coaster Auction History
RCB’s auction history is littered with marquee names and headline bids. Their first big leap came in 2009 when they signed pietersen for intr 9.8 crore, making him the most expensive player that season. The English Superstar also led the side briefly, but his tenure was short-lived.
In 2014, the Auction marked RCB by spending Inr 14 Crore on Yuvraj, who was coming off a Stellar World T20 campaign. While Yuvraj did well, RCB pulled off one of the most talked about moves in IPL history.
In 2017, they turned heads again by investing INR 12 crore in English Pacer Tymal MillsI hope it fills the void along the way Mitchell Starc. Similarly, in 2021, RCB made headlines by acquiring Jamieson for the highest bid ever, the highest bid by a major at the moment.
The franchise continued to bring back most of the all-around and impact players Shane WatsonMorris et al Wanindu Hasarangashows a clear strategy of investing in versatile cricketers who can deliver across formats.
Read: IPL 2026: Royal Rallengers Bengaluru – Here’s RCB’s name and brand to remain intact
RCB’s most expensive player bought in every IPL auction
| Year | Players | Price (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Jack dear | 3.8 crores |
| 2009 | Kevin Petersen | 9.8 crores |
| 2010 | John Morgan | 1.1 crore |
| 2011 | Saurabh Tiwari | 7 crores |
| 2012 | Vinay kumar | 5.3 crores |
| 2013 | Jaydev Unadkat | 2.83 crores |
| 2014 year | Yuvraj Singh | 14 crores |
| 2015 year | Dinesh Karthik | 10.5 crores |
| 2016 year | Shane Watson | 9.5 crores |
| 2017 year | Tymal Mills | 12 crores |
| 2018 year | Chris Voake | 7.4 crores |
| 2019 year | Shivam Dubey | 5 crores |
| 2020 | Chris Morris | 10 crores |
| 2021 | Kyle Jamieson | 15 crores |
| 2022 | Wanindu Hasaranga | 10.75 crores |
| 2023 | Jacks will do | 3.2 crores |
| 2024 | Alzarri Yusuf | 11.50 crores |
| 2025 | Josh Hazlewood | 12.50 crores |
Read: Royal Rallengers Bengaluru: 5 Indian players can keep RCB ahead of IPL 2026 auction
