RCB Finalizes 2026 Squad: Strategic Buys Bolster Strong Core for IPL Title Push

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered the IPL 2026 auction with a limited budget of Rs 16.40 crore and eight spots to fill, focusing on strategic additions.
• Key players released include Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, and Mayank Agarwal, indicating a targeted approach rather than a major squad overhaul.
• The team retains a strong core led by Virat Kohli, alongside Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Jitesh Sharma for a robust batting lineup.
• All-rounders Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya add balance, while the pace attack features Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and new additions.
• RCB made selective buys at the auction, acquiring Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Jordan Cox, and others to strengthen specific roles for their title aspirations.

Why It Matters: RCB strategically bolstered its strong core with targeted auction buys for IPL 2026 title aspirations.