Royal Challengers Bengaluru - IPL 2026 Team Preview
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter IPL 2026 with a familiar spine. After breaking an 18-year wait to win their maiden IPL title in 2025, RCB have retained the core of that title-winning squad. They arrive as the team everyone wants to beat.
The Batting Unit
RCB’s batting remains their greatest strength and arguably the best in the tournament. Virat Kohli is the heartbeat of the side. He scored 657 runs last season at an average of 54.75, with 8 fifties, and there is little doubt he will do it again. RCB have power at the top with Phil Salt and in the lower order with Romario Shepherd and Tim David. Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar are solid against spin in the middle overs and can provide controlled aggression. They also have the X-factor in Jacob Bethell, but it remains to be seen how they fit him into the XII.
The Bowling - Where the Questions Lie
Josh Hazlewood is set to miss the initial stages of IPL 2026, and Yash Dayal is ruled out for the entire season. That is two pace bowling slots to fill from the outset. Jacob Duffy is the likely replacement with the new ball and has been in good form recently, but replacing a bowler of Hazlewood’s quality is easier said than done. RCB could find themselves leaking runs in the powerplay despite posting big totals. The spin attack looks settled, with Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma providing control in the middle overs.
Likely XII
| # | Player | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | — |
| 2 | Phil Salt | Jacob Bethell |
| 3 | Devdutt Padikkal | — |
| 4 | Rajat Patidar | — |
| 5 | Jitesh Sharma | — |
| 6 | Tim David | Jordan Cox |
| 7 | Romario Shepherd | — |
| 8 | Krunal Pandya | — |
| 9 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | — |
| 10 | Suyash Sharma | — |
| 11 | Josh Hazlewood | Jacob Duffy |
| 12 | Rasikh Salam | — |