RCB’s IPL 2026 Retention Round: Who Stayed, Who Left, and Their Remaining Purse

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the defending champions, have finalized their retention list for IPL 2026 and revealed a clear strategy as they approach the upcoming mini-auction. With a mix of experience and young talent, the franchise appears to be balancing stability with flexibility.

Key Retained Players

• Rajat Patidar (captain) — continues to be central to their plans.
• Virat Kohli — the evergreen batting icon remains a pillar in their squad.
• Devdutt Padikkal & Phil Salt — provide solidity at the top of the order.
• Jitesh Sharma — wicketkeeper-batsman.
• Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell — give the team all-round depth.
• Krunal Pandya — adds balance with his all-round ability.
• Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara — strengthen the pace attack.
• Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma — promising domestic bowling resources.

Players Released

RCB has made several significant changes:

• Liam Livingstone — the English power-hitter is out.
• Mayank Agarwal — also released.
• Tim Seifert, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani — among other overseas names.
• Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara — domestic talent let go as well.

Remaining Purse

After completing their retentions and releases, RCB announces a remaining auction budget of ₹16.4 crore for IPL 2026. This gives them a decent war chest to target specific players in the mini-auction.

Strategic Take

• By retaining a strong core, RCB ensures continuity: their key batters, all-rounders, and senior bowlers are on board.
• Releasing big names like Livingstone could free up space for younger or more balanced acquisitions.
• ₹16.4 crore is a moderate remaining purse — not the largest, but sufficient for a few targeted buys rather than big-ticket marquee signings.