IPL 2026: Top 3 Worst Releases by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL History

Player releases are an unavoidable part of the Indian Premier League, with every auction forcing teams to make difficult squad decisions. While some calls help franchises refresh their combinations, others become painful in hindsight when former players go on to excel elsewhere. 

Over the years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have made several bold moves, but a few exits eventually turned into major regrets. In that journey, the franchise released a few players who later became match-winners for rival teams or reached greater heights in the tournament. On that note, here are the three worst Royal Challengers Bengaluru releases in IPL history.

1. KL Rahul

KL Rahul began his IPL career with RCB and was seen as one of the brightest young batting prospects in the country. However, the franchise released him before he could fully establish himself. 

After moving on to squads like Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and currently Delhi Capitals, Rahul developed into one of the most consistent top-order batters in the league, scoring heavily across multiple seasons and also leading franchises as captain. Letting a homegrown talent of his calibre go remains one of RCB’s most costly decisions.