Royal Challengers Bengaluru finalized their squad for 2026 after an intense auction in Abu Dhabi. The team made some smart moves by grabbing quality cricketers at reasonable amounts. RCB fans are already excited to see the players list announced by management officials.

The franchise kept its core group intact while adding fresh talent strategically everywhere possible. Virat Kohli stays as their franchise icon leading from the front like always before. Captain Rajat Patidar will also continue guiding the team through another season coming up.
RCB’s 2026 squad looks balanced with a good mix of experience and youth. The squad includes retained stars alongside exciting new signings from the auction. Their team strengthening focused on filling specific gaps identified after last season’s performances.
Big Buys and Strategic IPL Moves
Venkatesh Iyer became RCB’s headline purchase after a bidding war with other franchises. They grabbed him for ₹7 crore which seems fair for his all-round abilities. The franchise desperately needed someone who could bat aggressively and bowl useful overs too.
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy joined the squad at his base price of ₹2 crore. That’s solid value for an experienced overseas fast bowler who can swing balls. The complete squad also features Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, and Satvik Deswal at different points.
Royal Challengers clearly targeted specific roles rather than just buying big names randomly at auctions. Their 2026 strategy revolves around building a team that complements each other perfectly.
Released Players and Retained Stars
The franchise let go of Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Lungi Ngidi and others before the auctions started. Sometimes tough decisions help create space for better fits in the team composition. Their released players list made room for the new signings to come in.
Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt both stayed with RCB for another season thankfully enough. These retained stars form the backbone around which new additions will play freely. The amaount paid for keeping core members seems justified given their past contributions.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first title in 2025 by beating Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium. That victory changed everything about how this side approaches building squads for the next season. The squad reflects a champion mentality now rather than desperate auction shopping.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full Squad – List with Price
| Player Name | Price | Retain / Auction |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | ₹21 crore | Retained |
| Josh Hazlewood | ₹12.5 crore | Retained |
| Phil Salt | ₹11.5 crore | Retained |
| Rajat Patidar | ₹11 crore | Retained |
| Jitesh Sharma | ₹11 crore | Retained |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | ₹10.75 crore | Retained |
| Rasikh Salam | ₹6 crore | Retained |
| Krunal Pandya | ₹5.75 crore | Retained |
| Yash Dayal | ₹5 crore | Retained |
| Tim David | ₹3 crore | Retained |
| Suyash Sharma | ₹2.6 crore | Retained |
| Jacob Bethell | ₹2.6 crore | Retained |
| Devdutt Padikkal | ₹2 crore | Retained |
| Nuwan Thushara | ₹1.6 crore | Retained |
| Romario Shepherd | ₹1.5 crore | Retained |
| Swapnil Singh | ₹50 lakh | Retained |
| Abhinandan Singh | ₹30 lakh | Retained |
| Venkatesh Iyer | ₹7 crore | Auction |
| Jacob Duffy | ₹2 crore | Auction |
| Satvik Deswal | ₹30 lakh | Auction |
| Mangesh Yadav | ₹5.2 crore | Auction |
| Jordan Cox | ₹75 lakh | Auction |
| Vicky Ostwal | ₹30 lakh | Auction |
| Vihaan Malhotra | ₹30 lakh | Auction |
| Kanishk Chouhan | ₹30 lakh | Auction |












