After First Title, RCB Stick With Their Champions and Trust the Same Core for 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have opted for continuity over reinvention ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, retaining 17 players from their triumphant 2025 championship squad while releasing eight others, including England all-rounder Liam Livingstone. The decision, announced on November 15, 2025, leaves the franchise with a purse of ₹16.4 crore and four overseas slots to fill at the December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi.

Unlike rivals who overhauled their lineups post-season, RCB's management—now under a new regime—chose to "seal and polish the trophy cabinet", as one insider put it, prioritising loyalty to the core that ended their 18-year title drought. Retained stalwarts include captain Virat Kohli (₹21 crore), Rajat Patidar (₹15 crore), and Phil Salt (₹11 crore), with domestic picks like Yash Dayal (₹5 crore) and Rasikh Salam Dar (₹4 crore) also locked in despite mixed reviews.

The batting backbone remains largely intact, preserving the explosive blueprint that powered RCB's 2025 run. Kohli's 657 runs at a strike rate of 144.71 formed the anchor, complemented by Salt's blistering 403 at 175.98, while lower-order hitters Tim David (187 runs at 185.14 SR), Jitesh Sharma (261 at 176.35), and Romario Shepherd (70 off 24 balls in clutch moments) provided fireworks.

Flexibility comes from retainees Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell—who dazzled in limited outings—and Krunal Pandya, ensuring depth without the volatility of released opener Mayank Agarwal. Livingstone's departure (₹8.5 crore) is the headline cut: his 112 runs at a modest 120 SR in 2025 offered little beyond occasional power-hitting, overshadowed by the middle-order surplus. Analysts peg this as a savvy financial punt, freeing funds for targeted overseas firepower.

On the bowling front, RCB doubled down on reliability amid a 2025 attack that leaned heavily on experience. Josh Hazlewood's 22 wickets at a 17.54 average and 8.77 economy headline the pace unit, backed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar's control (economy under 8) and Nuwan Thushara's swing threat. Yash Dayal's retention (RVS: 7/10) stands out as the ultimate loyalty play: despite leaking runs (economy 9.2) and an off-field legal controversy that sidelined him post-final, his knack for big-stage wickets—like dismissing Travis Head in the semis—earned trust. Rasikh Salam Dar stays for his raw pace (RVS: 6/10), while Suyash Sharma and Swapnil Singh add spin variety. Releases like Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani (both reserves) carry low RRS (3/10), but Swastik Chikara's exit (RRS: 5/10) risks regret if the uncapped batter explodes elsewhere.

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This measured approach signals RCB's confidence in replicating 2025's formula—top-order solidity fused with lower-order blitzes and a veteran-led bowling core—while hedging against complacency. With uncapped gems like Abhinandan Singh and Manoj Bhandage released (potentially reclaimable via RTM cards), the auction strategy likely targets a marquee all-rounder to replace Livingstone and a death-over specialist. As defending champions, RCB enter the window with momentum, but the real test will be whether this "un-RCB" restraint translates to back-to-back glory or leaves them exposed in a league where sentiment rarely trumps strategy.

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