Royal Painters Bangalore (RCB) will approach IPL 2026 Auction With a clear intention to stabilize the roster while rebuilding the majors after a drubbing in the 2025 season. Their decision in the IPL 2026 appeal is aimed at preserving a strong core and opening up auction flexibility to target crucial reinforcements.
RCB maintain core strength ahead of IPL 2026 auction
RCB have retained Captain Rajat Patidar, star stud Virat Kohli, explosive opener Phil Salt and Veteran Fast Bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This group forms the backbone of RCB’s line-up, offering leadership, consistent runs and strong bowling. Retaining Josh Hazlewood highlights RCB’s reliance on his experience and bowling prowess.
But it has left out a few notable players like RCB Liam Livingstone and Lungi Ngidi to make room for fresh talent and better balance their squads. The release of these impressive foreign stars was seen as a strategic move to carefully manage the foreign quota and prepare auctioneers and death bowling experts for auction buying.
RCB’s strategy for IPL 2026 auction
With considerable purse value left after the rules, RCB enter the IPL 2026 auction with the financial muscle to bid for undrafted players. The remaining slots allow them to diversify their options, especially in developing young Indian talent with key international draws.
Read: IPL 2026 – Royal Rallengers Bengaluru: Here RCB name and brand will remain intact
Royal Rallengers Bengaluru: Catch, Release, Trade and Wallet
Players released: Liam Livingstone, Swastik Chikara, Tim Seifert, Manoj Bandaj, Lungi NgiGi, Nemet Muzarabani, Mohit Rathe, Mayank Agarwal
Players saved: Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Phil Saltya, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Bhuwan Shushar, Suysh Shepher, Swapnil Singh, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar
Bag left: INR 16.4 CR
Slots available: 8 (2 Abroad)
Read: RCB’s most expensive players in every IPL auction – from Kevin Pietersen to Yuvraj Singh
