RCB Strategy for IPL 2026 Auction: For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), this IPL auction promises to be the easiest in franchise history. Unlike previous seasons, there’s no major rebuilding required. The core of the team is already strong and well-balanced.
Batting Stronghold
The batting lineup looks rock solid. Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, and Jitesh Sharma form a stable top and middle order. Tim David adds the finishing power, while Krunal Pandya provides both batting depth and bowling support. RCB’s batting is essentially sorted.
Bowling Setup
In the pace department, RCB already have Hazlewood for accuracy and Yash Dayal for left-arm variation. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also in the mix, though both he and Yash have had injury concerns in the past. In spin, Krunal Pandya and young Surya Sharma provide stability.
Strategic Releases
The only players RCB might consider releasing are Liam Livingstone, bought for Rs 8.75 crore, and Rasikh Salam, previously bought for Rs 6 crore. Releasing them could free up around Rs 15 crore, a significant sum in a mini-auction where only a few key roles need filling. Livingstone could even be rebought at a bargain, while Salam’s replacement can be found more cost-effectively.
Key Focus: Pace Backup
RCB’s main concern heading into the auction is backup for Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), Yash Dayal, and Josh Hazlewood. Injuries are always a risk, and a solid Indian pacer to step in when needed will ensure the team remains competitive without compromising balance.
A Rare Luxury
With most of the squad retained and only minor tweaks needed, RCB management can approach the auction relaxed – almost unprecedented for the franchise. While other teams scramble to rebuild, RCB can sit back and watch the bidding wars, focusing only on filling gaps rather than major overhauls.
Conclusion
This year, RCB’s strategy is clear – retain the core, release selectively, and invest wisely in backups. With the team largely sorted, fans have reason to be excited for the first time, RCB might enter an auction completely stress-free.
