RCB Retention & Release List for IPL 2026: Who Stays, Who Goes at Royal Challengers Bengaluru?
Updated -16 November
IPL 2026: RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) Retain & Release Breakdown
As defending champions heading into IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have made strategic retention and release decisions. Their focus: maintain a strong core, preserve squad balance, and free up budget for targeted buys.
🔒 RCB Retained Players for IPL 2026
Here are the players that RCB have officially retained:
- Rajat Patidar (captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Phil Salt
- Jitesh Sharma
- Krunal Pandya
- Swapnil Singh
- Tim David
- Jacob Bethell
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Nuwan Thushara
- Rasikh Salam Dar
- Abhinandan Singh
- Suyash Sharma
Remaining Purse: ₹16.4 crore
❌ Players Released by RCB for IPL 2026
RCB have released several players to free up budget and recalibrate their squad:
- Liam Livingstone
- Mayank Agarwal
- Swastik Chikara
- Manoj Bhandage
- Lungi Ngidi (pacer)
- Mohit Rathee (spinner)
💡 What RCB’s Strategy Seems to Be
- Core Retained: RCB are clearly backing a long-term core — keeping Kohli, Patidar, Padikkal, Salt, and key bowling names like Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar.
- Strategic Releases: Releasing high-cost or underperforming names like Liam Livingstone suggests RCB want to free up significant funds for the mini-auction.
- Balanced Squad: The retention list blends youth (Padikkal, Bethell, Suyash), overseas firepower (Salt, Hazlewood), and experienced Indian campaigners (Kohli, Patidar).
- Budget Flexibility: With ₹16.4 crore left, RCB are well-positioned to pick role-specific players rather than just big names.
📅 Important Dates
- Retention deadline: 15 November 2025
- Mini-auction window: Expected around December 2025 (based on reports)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who are the top players RCB have retained for IPL 2026?
A1. Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, among others.
Q2. Which big names did RCB release or let go?
A2. RCB have released Liam Livingstone, Mayank Agarwal, Swastik Chikara, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, and Mohit Rathee.
Q3. How much purse does RCB have left to spend in the 2026 mini-auction?
A3. RCB have ₹16.4 crore remaining.
Q4. What’s RCB’s likely strategy in the upcoming auction based on their retention?
A4. With a strong core retained and good remaining funds, RCB are likely to go for role-specific additions — finishing batters, death-over bowlers, or backup overseas options.

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