Home > Cricket Breaking News > IPL 2026 Auction Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Retained & Released List — Squad & Auction Plan
IPL 2026 Auction Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Retained & Released List — Squad & Auction Plan
Updated - 18-NOV-2025 6:58 IST
RCB's IPL 2026 auction strategy is easy: keep the winning core, improve the bench, and use strategic auction signings to bridge certain holes. The full list of RCB players that have been retained and released is provided below, along with the team's official purse and auction plan.
This is an overview of the current situation, probable moves, and a workable auction plan to rebuild a competitive XI.
IPL 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Summary
- Captain: Rajat Patidar
- IPL 2025 Points Table: 02
- League Performance: 9 wins, 4 losses in 14 matches
- Playoff Performance: Left their maiden IPL title
Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Full Retained Players List
|
Player Name |
Role |
|
Rajat Patidar (C) |
Batter |
|
Virat Kohli |
Batter |
|
Phil Salt |
WK-Batter |
|
Jitesh Sharma |
WK-Batter |
|
Krunal Pandya |
All-Rounder |
|
Tim David |
All-Rounder |
|
Josh Hazlewood |
Bowler |
|
Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
Bowler |
|
Suyash Sharma |
Bowler |
|
Jacob Bethell |
All-Rounder |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Full Released Players List
|
Player Name |
Reason for Release |
|
Liam Livingstone |
High price; frees overseas slot |
|
Lungisani Ngidi |
Overseas reshuffle |
|
Manoj Bhandage |
Squad restructuring |
|
Swastik Chhikara |
Bench optimisation |
|
Mayank Agarwal |
Not in core plans |
|
Mohit Rathee |
Released for balance |
|
Player Name |
Reason for Release |
|
Liam Livingstone |
High price; frees overseas slot |
|
Lungisani Ngidi |
Overseas reshuffle |
|
Manoj Bhandage |
Squad restructuring |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Retention & Auction Plan
Official Purse Remaining: ₹16.40 Crore (2 overseas and 8 remaining spots). This allows RCB to make significant additions to bolster important areas.
- Find a strong foreign all-rounder to take Livingstone's spot.
- To help Hazlewood and Bhuvi, sign an Indian express pacer.
- Various possibilities for lower middle-order finishing.
- For rotation, quickly add one backup overseas.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Squad IPL 2026
|
Category |
Players |
|
Batters/WK |
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar |
|
All-Rouder |
Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Jacob Bethell |
|
Bowlers |
Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
|
Tarded Out |
Ravindra Jadeja (to RR), Sam Curran (to RR) |
RCB's strategy for the IPL 2026 auction seems well-planned: keep the championship-winning core, let go of expensive or underutilized players, and focus on smart additions. They are well-positioned to defend their title with calculated additions instead of rash spending, thanks to a strong budget and well-defined priorities.