Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have now made their final list of retained and released players ahead of IPL 2026 auction which is scheduled to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. After the November 15 deadline, all ten franchises have submitted their finalized squads to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, setting up a potentially blockbuster auction.
Some of the well-known names released by RCB include Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, and Mohit Rathee. Although a few of these players could not make significant contributions on a regular basis in the previous season, many of them are experienced and capable of winning games single-handedly, hence a lot of them can attract high bids in the coming auction as well.
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Mayank Agarwal could be a valuable pick for teams looking to bolster their top-order, with his ability to anchor innings and play aggressively under pressure. Liam Livingstone, the English all-rounder, remains a T20 powerhouse with the capability to score big quickly and pick wickets with his medium pace, making him a versatile asset for any franchise.
Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani bring in experience and raw pace, which should be crucial for franchises wanting to strengthen their fast bowling department. Mohit Rathee, though still very young, offers promising spin options and could see his value rise depending on the right team’s backing.
RCB’s release strategy seems to be for flexibility and rebuilding toward the upcoming season, freeing up a substantial purse to chase marquee players in Abu Dhabi. The auction will arguably be the most competitive, with quite a number of the above-mentioned released stars likely to turn out as game-changers for newer franchises. With IPL 2026 set to be an exciting season, all eyes will be on the Abu Dhabi auction to see which franchises pick up these released players and how they could affect the title race.
