IPL RCB Team 2026 Players List: Indian allrounder Venkatesh Iyer was purchased by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 7 crore at the IPL mini auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as their first signing. The reigning champions were involved in a bidding war with Kolkata Knight Riders, but eventually got the player. He has played for KKR in the past and has made 1468 runs in 62 matches.
RCB chose to retain 17 players and went into the mini-auction with a purse of Rs 16.40 crore. The funds were freed up after they released England all-rounder Liam Livingstone and South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, along with Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Agarwal, Mohit Rathee and Sachin Baby. RCB’s purse at the start of the day was the fourth lowest, only ahead of Mumbai Indians (Rs 2.75 crore), Punjab Kings (Rs 11.50 crore) and the Rajasthan Royals (Rs 16.05 crore).
Having ended what seemed like a never-ending wait for a title last season, RCB now face a challenge that is arguably more difficult than winning the IPL itself – defending it. They have chosen to not tinker too much with a combination that literally ended up being declared the best in the league last year but where they would be worried would be the depth, or lack of it, in their fast bowling department. Josh Hazlewood is injured and his workload management is a worry while Yash Dayal has played no professional cricket since last season’s IPL itself.
RCB players signed in IPL 2026 Mini-Auction
1) Venkatesh Iyer (India), Rs 7 crore
2 Mangesh Yadav (India) Rs 5.20 crore
3 Jacob Duffy (New Zealand) Rs 2 crore
4 Jordan Cox (England ) Rs 75 lakh
5 Satwik Deswal (India) Rs 30 lakh
6 Vihaan Malhotra Rs 30 lakh
7 Kanishk Chouhan Rs 30 lakh
Players retained: Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, Nuwan Thushara, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Rasikh Dar, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal
Updated squad: Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, Nuwan Thushara, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Rasikh Dar, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav, Satwik Deswal, Jordan Cox, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan