Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally got to rejoice winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025. The last few months have been full of joy for the fans, but next season’s planning has already begun for every team. In this article, we take a look at RCB Retention List IPL 2026 auction.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is one of the founding members of the IPL that was formed in 2008. But they were one of the few teams who were yet to lift the trophy, until 2025.
The IPL 2025 season turned out to be the fairy-tale that every RCB fans had been dreaming for. The Rajat Patidar led side beat the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final match to lift the trophy.
But, let the past be past and now RCB fans and management have to focus on the 2026 season, where they will be tasked with retaining the crown. The management has already started preparing the RCB retention list 2026 players list before the upcoming Auction in December.
After the IPL 2025 season, there were rumours about RCB IPL 2026 banned after the stampede at the Chinnaswamy during Trophy celebration. But, it seems RCB is unlikely to be banned and will feature in the IPL 2026 season.
Fans are also worried about RCB retained players 2026 list Virat Kohli will play next season or not. Kohli has retired from T20Is and Tests and fans are worried about his IPL future. However, it is likely that Kohli will definitely continue until the end of IPL 2027 season.
Now that the rumours of RCB IPL 2026 banned rumours and whether or not Virat Kohli will be in RCB retention list 2026, in this article, we take a look at RCB Retention List IPL 2026 auction.
ALSO READ: CSK Retention List before IPL 2026 Auction
Table of Contents
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Retained Players List
Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Swastik Chikara, Tim David, Tim Seifert, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal.
Likely Released List of Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026
Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Mohit Rathee, Swapnil Singh, Rasikh Salam, Nuwan Thusara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Blessing Muzarabani.
RCB Retained Players List from Mega Auction 2025
Ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained only three core members of their 2024 squad. Their star batter Virat Kohli was the number one retention with a salary of 21 crore. Rajat Patidar was retained for 11 crore price while left-arm pacer Yash Dayal was retained for 5 crore price. Patidar was later named as the new RCB captain after they released Faf du Plessis.
| Player | Price (INR Crore) |
| Virat Kohli | 21.00 |
| Rajat Patidar | 11.00 |
| Yash Dayal | 5.00 |
| Total Spent | 37.00 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Squad before IPL 2026
| Category | Player | Role / Notes |
| Batters | Virat Kohli | Top-order Batter (Retained) |
| Rajat Patidar | Middle-order Batter (Retained, c) | |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Top-order Batter | |
| Swastik Chikara | Emerging Batter | |
| Tim David | Middle-order Batter | |
| Mayank Agarwal | Experienced Batter/ Devdutt Padikkal Replacement | |
| Jacob Bethell | Middle-order Batter | |
| Wicketkeepers | Phil Salt | Wicketkeeper Batter (Opener) |
| Jitesh Sharma | Wicketkeeper Batter | |
| All-rounders | Liam Livingstone | All-rounder (Spin) |
| Krunal Pandya | All-rounder (Spin) | |
| Swapnil Singh | All-rounder (Spin) | |
| Romario Shepherd | All-rounder (Pace) | |
| Manoj Bhandage | All-rounder | |
| Mohit Rathee | All-rounder | |
| Bowlers | Yash Dayal | Fast Bowler (Retained) |
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast Bowler | |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Fast Bowler | |
| Rasikh Dar | Fast Bowler | |
| Suyash Sharma | Spinner | |
| Nuwan Thushara | Fast Bowler | |
| Lungi Ngidi | Fast Bowler | |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Zimbabwe Tall Pacer/ Lungi Ngidi Replacement | |
| Abhinandan Singh | Bowler |
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