Royal Challengers Bengaluru made wise picks in the IPL 2026 mini auction. The team bought eight new players to make their squad stronger. They spent Rs 16.25 crore in total at the auction in Abu Dhabi.
RCB wants to defend their championship title this year. Captain Rajat Patidar will lead the team again. The management kept 17 players from last season. This shows they trust their winning formula.
Big Purchase: Venkatesh Iyer Joins RCB
RCB’s biggest buy was all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer. They paid Rs 7 crore for him. Kolkata Knight Riders also wanted him badly. A bidding war happened between the two teams. Finally, RCB won the race for this talented player.
Venkatesh Iyer can both bat and bowl well. He will add great value to the team. His skills make him a complete package. RCB fans are excited about this signing.
New Players Join the Squad
RCB bought seven more players besides Venkatesh Iyer. Mangesh Yadav is a fast bowler who joined the team. Jacob Duffy from New Zealand also came on board. Jordan Cox is a talented wicketkeeper-batsman.
Young players like Kanishk Chouhan and Vihaan Malhotra got their chance. Vicky Ostwal and Satvik Deswal complete the new signings. These players bring fresh energy to the squad.
| No. | Player Name | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philip Salt | Batter |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | Batter |
| 3 | Venkatesh Iyer | All-rounder |
| 4 | Rajat Patidar | Batter (Captain) |
| 5 | Tim David | Batter |
| 6 | Jitesh Sharma | Wicketkeeper |
| 7 | Romario Shepherd | All-rounder |
| 8 | Krunal Pandya | All-rounder |
| 9 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler |
| 10 | Yash Dayal | Bowler |
| 11 | Josh Hazlewood | Bowler |
RCB’s Strategy for IPL 2026
The team went into the auction with Rs 16.40 crore. They used almost all of it wisely. RCB kept most players from their winning season. This means the team chemistry will stay strong.
The management believes in continuity. They know what worked last year. The same strategy will help them this season too. Only small changes were made to fill gaps.
RCB looks ready to defend their title. The mix of experienced and young players is perfect. Fans hope this combination brings success again. The team’s strongest playing 11 looks balanced and powerful.
