Royal Challengers Bengaluru enters the 2026 season carrying the enormous pride and pressure of defending champions.
After breaking their 18-year title drought with a memorable victory over Punjab Kings in the 2025 final, RCB faces the challenge of becoming only the third franchise to achieve back-to-back championships.
Under Rajat Patidar’s inspired leadership and with Virat Kohli’s continued excellence, the Bengaluru-based franchise has maintained their championship core while making strategic additions to strengthen squad depth.
Explore how Royal Challengers Bengaluru balanced championship continuity with strategic improvements through smart retention and targeted auction moves for their 2026 title defense.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 2026 Complete Squad Overview
Here is the complete list of Royal Challengers Bengaluru 2026 squad players. By clicking on any player’s name, you can read about their detailed biography, career stats, and net worth information.
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status | Price (₹ Crores) |
| Rajat Patidar | Batsman (Captain) | India | Retained | 11.00 |
| Virat Kohli | Batsman | India | Retained | 21.00 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batsman | India | Retained | 2.00 |
| Phil Salt | WK-Batsman | England | Retained | 11.50 |
| Jitesh Sharma | WK-Batsman | India | Retained | 11.00 |
| Tim David | Batsman | Australia | Retained | 3.00 |
| Jordan Cox | WK-Batsman | England | Auction Buy | 0.75 |
| Vihaan Malhotra | Batsman | India | Auction Buy | 0.30 |
| Kanishk Chouhan | Batsman | India | Auction Buy | 0.30 |
| Krunal Pandya | All-Rounder | India | Retained | 5.75 |
| Swapnil Singh | All-Rounder | India | Retained | 0.50 |
| Romario Shepherd | All-Rounder | West Indies | Retained | 1.50 |
| Jacob Bethell | All-Rounder | England | Retained | 2.60 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-Rounder | India | Auction Buy | 7.00 |
| Mangesh Yadav | All-Rounder | India | Auction Buy | 5.20 |
| Satvik Deswal | All-Rounder | India | Auction Buy | 0.30 |
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast Bowler | Australia | Retained | 12.50 |
| Yash Dayal | Fast Bowler | India | Retained | 5.00 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Fast Bowler | India | Retained | 10.75 |
| Nuwan Thushara | Fast Bowler | Sri Lanka | Retained | 1.60 |
| Rasikh Salam | Fast Bowler | India | Retained | 6.00 |
| Jacob Duffy | Fast Bowler | New Zealand | Auction Buy | 2.00 |
| Abhinandan Singh | Fast Bowler | India | Retained | 0.30 |
| Suyash Sharma | Spinner | India | Retained | 2.60 |
| Vicky Ostwal | Spinner | India | Auction Buy | 0.30 |
Squad Statistics:
- Total Players: 25 (17 Indians, 8 Overseas)
- Captain: Rajat Patidar
- Coach: Andy Flower
- Home Ground: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Auction Investment: ₹15.85 Crores
- IPL Championships: 1 (2025)
RCB Captain 2026
Rajat Patidar continues as captain after leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title in 2025.
The 32-year-old Madhya Pradesh batsman has established himself as one of the most successful captains in franchise cricket, achieving what legends like Virat Kohli couldn’t accomplish in 18 years.
Patidar’s Championship Leadership: On 3 June 2025, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first-ever IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings by six runs under Patidar’s captaincy. His calm demeanor and tactical acumen proved instrumental in RCB’s historic breakthrough.
Captain’s Profile:
- Age: 32 years
- Leadership Style: Calm, calculated, player-empowerment focused
- Batting Position: Middle-order anchor and accelerator
- Tactical Approach: Aggressive field placements, proactive bowling changes
- Team Chemistry: Venkatesh Iyer joins alongside his long-time Madhya Pradesh teammate and current RCB skipper
Championship Credentials: The side was captained by Rajat Patidar and powered by standout performers such as Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Phil Salt. His ability to extract the best from diverse talents validates his leadership credentials.
Royal Challengers IPL Team New Players 2026
RCB made their first signing by winning a bidding war against KKR to acquire Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crores. The defending champions focused on strategic additions rather than wholesale changes.
| Player | Country | Role | Price | Strategic Value |
| Venkatesh Iyer | India | All-Rounder | ₹7.00 cr | Fierce bidding battle with KKR, eventually secured for 70% less than his previous salary |
| Mangesh Yadav | India | All-Rounder | ₹5.20 cr | Uncapped domestic sensation from Madhya Pradesh, explosive in recent Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament |
| Jacob Duffy | New Zealand | Fast Bowler | ₹2.00 cr | Sealed priority signing at base price, overseas pace backup |
| Jordan Cox | England | WK-Batsman | ₹0.75 cr | England wicket-keeper acquired at base price during accelerated round |
Strategic Continuity: Rather than focusing on overhaul or major course correction, the management will look to fine-tune an already successful setup. This approach reflects confidence in their championship-winning formula.
Value Additions: The franchise also secured promising domestic talents including Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, and Kanishk Chouhan at base prices, demonstrating smart budget management.
Budget Utilization: After the auction RCB were left with a purse of ₹0.25 crores, having filled all player slots and overseas slots, showcasing efficient squad completion within budget constraints.
RCB Retained Players 2026
Retaining 17 players highlights the management’s confidence in a settled, title-winning core. The retention strategy prioritized championship continuity over experimentation.
Batting Powerhouse: They have Virat Kohli and Phil Salt at the top, Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya and Rajat Patidar in the middle, with Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Jitesh Sharma to finish things. This batting depth was instrumental in their title triumph.
Bowling Foundation: They have spinners in Pandya, Suyash Sharma and Swapnil Singh and pacers like Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Shepherd, Yash Dayal, providing comprehensive bowling options.
Leadership Stability: Leadership core remains intact with Rajat Patidar continuing as captain while Kohli remains the batting pillar, ensuring continuity in team culture and tactical approach.
Youth Investment: The retention of players like Devdutt Padikkal and domestic talents showcases RCB’s commitment to developing young Indian cricket alongside proven performers.
Royal Challengers Franchise Released Players 2026
The release of Liam Livingstone being the most notable departure following a disappointing 2025 season. Strategic releases created budget flexibility while maintaining core strength.
Strategic Departures:
- Liam Livingstone – English all-rounder released after underperforming ₹8.75 crores investment
- Lungi Ngidi – South African pacer made way for overseas pace alternatives
- Mayank Agarwal – Indian batsman released to create middle-order space
Financial Management: These releases freed up significant budget space while addressing specific performance concerns from the 2025 campaign. Each departure served tactical squad optimization purposes.
RCB Playing 11 2026
The Royal Challengers cricket team benefits from exceptional squad depth and proven championship combinations. Their balanced construction enables tactical flexibility while maintaining successful formulas.
Championship-Winning XI:
- Phil Salt – Salt’s explosive starts provide aggressive powerplay foundation
- Virat Kohli – Kohli’s consistency (657 runs in 2025), legendary anchor batsman
- Rajat Patidar – Captain and middle-order stability provider, proven under pressure
- Venkatesh Iyer – New acquisition providing left-hand balance and all-round options
- Tim David – Australian power-hitter, proven middle-order finisher
- Krunal Pandya – Left-arm spinner and batting depth, tactical flexibility
- Romario Shepherd – West Indian all-rounder, death bowling specialist
- Jitesh Sharma – Wicket-keeper finisher, Indian core member
- Josh Hazlewood – Hazlewood’s 22 wickets, pace spearhead
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Swing bowling master, powerplay specialist
- Yash Dayal – Left-arm pacer, death bowling option
Alternative Combinations: Jacob Bethell offers additional overseas batting-bowling combination, while Jacob Duffy provides pace variety. Multiple wicket-keeping options create tactical flexibility.
Royal Challengers Cricket Team Home Ground
Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru Advantages:
- Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Capacity: 40,000
- Pitch Characteristics: High-scoring venue, favors aggressive batting
- Home Support: Passionate RCB fanbase, electric atmosphere
The venue challenges include home form improvement via spin reinforcements, making strategic bowling selections crucial for consistent success.
Royal Challengers IPL Franchise Historical Performance
| Season | Captain | Wins | Losses | Position | Notable Achievement |
| 2009 | Anil Kumble | 9 | 5 | 2nd Place | Lost final to Deccan Chargers |
| 2011 | Daniel Vettori | 10 | 4 | 2nd Place | Lost final to Chennai Super Kings |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | 9 | 5 | 2nd Place | Lost final to Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2025 | Rajat Patidar | 11 | 3 | Winner | First IPL Championship |
RCB finally shattered their long-standing trophy drought in 2025, ending 18 years of near-misses and heartbreak. The championship breakthrough validates their persistent pursuit of excellence.
Why RCB Can Win IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Cricket Team Strengths:
- Championship pedigree from ending 18-year trophy drought with memorable title victory
- Exceptional batting depth from top to bottom with multiple match-winners
- Balanced bowling attack featuring pace variety and spin options
- Proven leadership combination of Patidar’s captaincy and Kohli’s experience
- Strategic squad additions addressing specific skill gaps
Defending Champions Advantage: RCB would be in good position to defend its title and enter elite list of teams to win it for two consecutive seasons. Championship experience provides psychological edge over competitors.
Squad Balance Benefits: On paper, RCB remain one of the most balanced teams in the league with settled top order, power-experience middle order combination, and stable leadership group.
Tactical Flexibility: The addition of players like Venkatesh Iyer and Mangesh Yadav provides fresh tactical options while maintaining proven championship formulas.
FAQs
Who is RCB captain 2026?
Rajat Patidar continues as Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain for 2026. The 32-year-old Madhya Pradesh batsman successfully led RCB to their maiden IPL title in 2025.
Who are Royal Challengers franchise new players 2026?
RCB’s new signings include Venkatesh Iyer (₹7cr), Mangesh Yadav (₹5.2cr), Jacob Duffy (₹2cr), Jordan Cox (₹75 lakhs), and several promising domestic talents.
How much did Royal Challengers cricket team spend in auction 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru spent ₹15.85 crores at the auction from their ₹16.40 crores purse, with Venkatesh Iyer being their marquee acquisition.
Who is Royal Challengers Bengaluru owner?
United Spirits Limited (part of Diageo group) owns the Royal Challengers franchise, bringing corporate expertise and significant financial backing.
What is RCB home ground?
Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru serves as RCB’s home venue, featuring 40,000 capacity and high-scoring batting conditions.
How many times has Royal Challengers IPL team won the tournament?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has won one IPL title in 2025, ending their 18-year wait after three previous runner-up finishes.
Who is Royal Challengers cricket team coach 2026?
Andy Flower continues as head coach, bringing vast international experience and tactical expertise to guide the title defense.
Which players did the Royal Challengers franchise retain?
RCB retained 17 players including Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, and other championship core members.
What is Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad 2026?
The Royal Challengers cricket team features 25 players with 17 Indians and 8 overseas cricketers, maintaining championship-winning balance and depth.
Who are RCB released players 2026?
Major releases include Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, and Mayank Agarwal to create budget flexibility and address performance concerns.
What is Royal Challengers Bengaluru jersey color?
The Royal Challengers cricket team wears red and gold colored jerseys, representing their royal identity and passionate fanbase.
When does IPL 2026 season start?
The Indian Premier League 2026 begins on March 26, with RCB aiming to become only the third franchise to achieve back-to-back titles.
Why did RCB buy Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crores?
Royal Challengers valued Iyer’s all-round capabilities, left-handed batting option, and chemistry with captain Rajat Patidar from their Madhya Pradesh connection.
Who is RCB wicket-keeper for 2026?
The franchise has multiple options including Phil Salt (primary), Jitesh Sharma, and Jordan Cox, providing tactical flexibility based on conditions.
What makes Royal Challengers Bengaluru competitive?
RCB’s competitiveness stems from championship experience, exceptional batting depth, balanced bowling attack, proven leadership, strategic squad additions, and passionate home support creating fortress-like advantage.
