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RCB Retained and Released Players for IPL 2026 Auction: Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have made major and strategic changes to their team. The franchise has released several players to increase the auction purse and rebalance the squad, while retaining some key players.
Here is the RCB Retained and Released Players list for IPL 2026 Auction
RCB Retained Players
RCB has shown confidence in its core team by retaining these players:
| Class | Retained Players |
|---|---|
| Batsmen | Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal |
| Wicketkeepers | Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma |
| All-rounders | Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell |
| Bowlers | Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma |
Also Read: List of KKR retained and released players ahead of IPL 2026 auction
Key points of retention
- Batting pivot: Retaining Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar ensures stability in RCB's batting.
- Heavy investment in all-rounders: Retaining foreign and Indian all-rounders like Tim David, Krunal Pandya, and Romario Shepherd prioritizes finishing and bowling depth.
- Bowling Balance: Retaining Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Nuwan Thushara creates a balanced pace attack.
Also Read: MI retained and released players ahead of IPL 2026 auction: The Official List
RCB Released Players
These players will now be available for the IPL mini auction. RCB has increased its auction purse by releasing these players:
| Category | Released Players |
|---|---|
| Batsmen | Mayank Agarwal, Swastik Chikara |
| Wicketkeepers | Tim Seifert |
| All-rounders | Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage |
| Bowlers | Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Mohit Rathi |
Impact of these releases on the squad
- Mayank Agarwal's exclusion: This will force RCB to look for a new Indian opening partner in the auction.
- Liam Livingstone's release: This is the biggest decision, giving RCB a significant purse boost, which they can use to acquire a world-class foreign all-rounder or specialist batsman in the auction.
- Fast bowling slots: The release of Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani has reduced the depth in the foreign pace attack.
Also Read: CSK IPL 2026: Full List of Retained, Released, and Traded Players
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