IPL Auction 2026: Fresh Off Victory, RCB Seeks to Fill Roster Holes in Abu Dhabi

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after finally securing their first IPL championship in 2025 under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, are setting their sights on the 2026 auction to strengthen their squad. Their victory over Punjab Kings marked a significant milestone. Now, armed with a purse of Rs 16.40 crore and eight open roster spots, RCB is looking to add depth to their bowling attack and solidify their middle order when the auction commences in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

After years of near misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and star player Virat Kohli finally tasted IPL glory last season, defeating Punjab Kings in the final. This momentous win means RCB will enter the upcoming IPL Auction as reigning champions for the first time.

RCB's triumphant 2025 season, led by Captain Rajat Patidar, saw them win 11 out of 16 matches, boasting a winning percentage of 68.8%. Prior to the auction, the team released several players including Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, Mayank Agarwal, Manoj Bhandage, Swastik Chikara, and Mohit Rathee. With their remaining funds, RCB aims to strategically fill their remaining slots, including two for overseas players.

Key Strengths

RCB's success in 2025 was built on a foundation of strong opening partnerships and explosive hitting in the final overs:

• Top-Order Stability:** Virat Kohli and Phil Salt consistently provided solid starts, emerging as the team's leading run-scorers with 657 and 403 runs, respectively. Salt's aggressive strike rate of 175.98 complemented Kohli's steady presence at the top.
• Middle-Order Support:** Devdutt Padikkal and Captain Rajat Patidar contributed significantly in the middle order, scoring 247 and 312 runs respectively.
• Finishing Power:** Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd provided the fireworks at the end of innings. David scored at a strike rate of 185.15, Jitesh added 261 runs at a strike rate of 176.35, and Shepherd's limited appearances saw him strike at an impressive 291.67.

Addressing Weaknesses

While RCB's batting lineup proved formidable, their bowling depth is an area the team will be keen to address at the auction. Despite a strong showing last season, potential vulnerabilities exist. Josh Hazlewood's potential absence due to workload management and Yash Dayal's lack of recent top-level cricket raise concerns. Consequently, RCB will likely prioritize securing an overseas fast-bowling backup and a reliable domestic seamer.

Potential targets include Matt Henry as a possible overseas replacement for Hazlewood, while Shivam Mavi, Kartik Tyagi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Akash Madhwal could be considered as Indian fast-bowling options. Following Liam Livingstone's release, RCB might consider Jacob Bethell for the middle order. While Bethell showed promise in his limited appearances last year, scoring 67 runs at a strike rate of 171.59, RCB may also explore the option of adding an explosive Indian batter to support Devdutt Padikkal. Furthermore, securing a quality spinner could also be on RCB's agenda. With a remaining purse of Rs 16.40 crore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has several areas to address in the upcoming auction as they look to build on their championship-winning squad.