Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter IPL 2026 as reigning champions after their unbreakable 2025 squad finally delivered the title the franchise had chased for nearly two decades.
Built around Virat Kohli’s brilliance and a world-class bowling attack led by Josh Hazlewood, that team proved nearly impossible to beat.
This year, RCB had a purse of Rs 16.40 crore and eight vacancies to fill, and they used it wisely. Their standout acquisition was Venkatesh Iyer at Rs 7 crore, adding much-needed power and depth to the middle order.
Backed by smart buys like Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav, and Jordan Cox, RCB looks every bit like a team built to defend its crown.
RCB Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | Opener |
| 2 | Phil Salt | Opener |
| 3 | Venkatesh Iyer | Top-order Batter |
| 4 | Rajat Patidar | Middle-order Batter |
| 5 | Jitesh Sharma | Middle-order / Wicketkeeper |
| 6 | Tim David | Finisher |
| 7 | Romario Shepherd | All-rounder |
| 8 | Krunal Pandya | All-rounder |
| 9 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Suyash Sharma | Leg Spinner |
| 11 | Josh Hazlewood | Fast Bowler |
| Impact Player | Mangesh Yadav | Fast Bowler |
Top Order: Virat, Salt, and Iyer
RCB’s top order is arguably the most dangerous in IPL 2026. Virat Kohli is in a mood this year and was simply in a different class last season, scoring 657 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 144.71 with 19 sixes, and used to one end of the batting line-up.
Phil Salt adds explosive intent at the top, having smashed 403 runs at a stunning strike rate of 175.98 in IPL 2025.
New signing Venkatesh Iyer slots in at number three, bringing a career average of 29.96 and a strike rate of 137.32 across 62 IPL matches, with that 158.80 strike rate in 2024 showing exactly why RCB paid Rs 7 crore to secure him.
Middle Order: Patidar and Jitesh
Rajat Patidar at number four takes the game away from the opposition, bringing solidity and aggression, having scored 312 runs last season at a strike rate of 143.78.
Behind him, Jitesh Sharma has quietly become one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the competition, posting 261 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 176.35 and have highest score for RCB in 2025 and a thrilling finish against LSG.
Lower Order: Krunal, David, and Shepherd
Tim David at six is the designated finisher; 187 runs at 185.15 last season tells its own story.
Romario Shepherd at seven adds brutal lower-order hitting, doubling the run rate of the team in the final overs, having struck at 291.67 in IPL 2025, while also contributing six wickets.
Krunal Pandya rounds off the batting depth at eight, offering both useful runs and 17 wickets from last season as a trusted spin option in the middle overs.
Bowling Unit: The Reason RCB Won the Title
| Bowler | Type | 2025 Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | Right-arm Fast | 22 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Right-arm Swing | 17 |
| Krunal Pandya | Left-arm Spin | 17 |
| Yash Dayal | Left-arm Fast | 13 |
| Suyash Sharma | Leg Spin | 8 |
RCB’s bowling attack is what separates them from the rest. Josh Hazlewood was the standout performer in 2025, picking up 22 wickets in just 12 matches, a match-winning return by any standard.
The Two-time Purple cap winner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, adds swing and experience upfront with 17 wickets across 14 games, while Krunal Pandya’s 17 wickets from 15 matches and an economy below 7 make him one of the most reliable spin-bowling all-rounders in the league.
Suyash Sharma provides the wrist-spin variation in the middle overs with eight wickets, and impact player Mangesh Yadav gives RCB a high-quality fast bowling backup option capable of changing games in a single over.
Other Options RCB Could Turn To
RCB’s squad depth means the playing XI is never set in stone. Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, and Yash Dayal are three players who could easily force their way into the starting lineup depending on conditions, opposition, and team balance.
- Jordan Cox: The English wicketkeeper-batter had a superb The Hundred Season playing for Oval Invincibles with a quick innings of 86* of 29 balls.
- Jacob Bethell: In just two IPL appearances last season, the 21-year-old left-hander scored 67 runs at a strike rate of 171.79. His recent England form has been equally impressive, and his left-handed option in the middle order gives RCB a different dimension entirely.
- Yash Dayal: A key contributor to RCB’s 2025 title run with 13 wickets in 15 matches, Dayal is an effective left-arm pacer across all phases.
