Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went into the IPL 2026 auction with a very limited budget. So, they had to move smartly. The franchise retained most of their players from the last season. During the auction, they mostly invested in young players. 

Kanishk Chouhan was one of the emerging players who was picked by RCB from the IPL 2026 mini auction. The all-rounder is an integral part of the India Under-19 setup who has so far performed brilliantly in the ongoing Asia Cup U-19 tournament. After the auction, Indian cricket fans got more curious about the player. 

The 19-year-old was among the best performers during the India U-19 vs Pakistan U-19 match on December 14. With the bat, he scored 46 runs and took 3 important wickets to defend a total of 240. For this all-round performance, the Rajasthan-born got the man of the match award. 

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Watch some glimpses of Kanishk Chouhan's batting in Asia Cup U-19

RCB’s New Recruit Kanishk Chouhan in ongoing U19 Asia Cuppic.twitter.com/4YIeObWp9R

— Fearless🦁 (@ViratTheLegend) December 18, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained players and new players for the IPL 2026 season: For only INR 30 lakhs, the defending champion secured his sign. He is currently a second-year BA student at Shah Satnam Ji Boys College, Sirsa, and has been playing for the Shah Satnam Cricket Academy, Sirsa, for the past 10 years. His father, Pradeep Kumar, is a farmer, and his mother is a homemaker. He is the only son in his family. 

RCB full squad 

Retained players:

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.

Players from the IPL 2026 auction:

Venkatesh Iyer (7 cr), Mangesh Yadav (5.2 cr), Jacob Duffy (2 cr), Satwik Deswal (30 L), Jordan Cox (75 L), Vihaan Malhotra (30 L), Kanishk Chouhan (30 L), Vicky Ostwal (30 L)

At the IPL 2026 mini auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured the Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore. It was a tough bidding war, with teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Gujarat Titans also showing interest. In the end, RCB stayed firm and successfully added Venkatesh to their squad.

Venkatesh Iyer will now play for the defending champions after being picked at the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi. LSG and Gujarat Titans started the bidding before RCB and KKR entered the race. KKR pulled out after bidding ₹6.80 crore, allowing RCB to seal the deal. Venkatesh will reunite with his Madhya Pradesh teammate and RCB captain Rajat Patidar, adding strength to the batting and all-round department.

RCB are coming into IPL 2026 with high confidence after winning their first-ever IPL title earlier this year. They defeated the Punjab Kings in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the auction, RCB retained most of their key players, including Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. After signing Venkatesh Iyer, RCB head coach Andy Flower said, "It’s two years running we’ve battled KKR for Venky—we both rate him highly, so it’s great to have him on board. We met him, chatted, and loved his competitive spirit, smarts, and leadership qualities for the dressing room and field. Looking forward to working with him."

See Also: IPL Auction 2026: Full squad and new bought players for Delhi Capitals

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bought Players at IPL 2026 Auction

Venkatesh Iyer (₹7 crore), Jacob Duffy (₹2 crore), Mangesh Yadav (₹5.2 crore), Satvik Deswal (₹30 lakh), Jordan Cox (₹75 lakh), Kanishk Chouhan (₹30 lakh), Vihaan Malhotra (₹30 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (₹30 lakh).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full Squad for IPL 2026

Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a surprising move in the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi by investing Rs. 5.20 crore on Mangesh Yadav, an underrated pace bowler from Madhya Pradesh. 

Who is Mangesh Yadav?

Mangesh Yadav is one of the talents whose recent bowling performance grabbed the attention of Indian cricket fans. During the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025 campaign, he emerged as the topmost leading wicket-taker. In 6 matches, the left-arm pacer claimed a whopping number of 14 wickets, including three 4-fers. 

In terms of bowling average, he was the best in the contest. In those 6 matches and 21 overs, Mangesh got fourteen scalps at an average of 12.00. Against the Bhopal Leopards, he picked up 4 wickets in 3 overs, offering only 18 runs. The other two 4-wicket figures he got during the matches against Jabalpur Royal Lions and Bundelkhand Bulls. According to the stats of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025, Yadav's overall economy rate was 8.00. 

Read More: Watch: Rajasthan Royals shares specially edited video to welcome Ravi Bishnoi for IPL 2026 season

The pacer is not only relying on the pace of deliveries but also on variations. In modern cricket, yorkers or slower deliveries proved extremely effective during the powerplay and death overs. Yadav can bowl precise Yorkers and slowers along with the ability to swing the ball in both ways.

Mangesh entered the auction at a base price of Rs. 30 lakh, with RCB opening the bidding. Sunrisers Hyderabad soon joined the contest. As both of the franchises eagerly wanted the pacer in their arsenal, the amount did not take too long to go over the Rs 1 crore mark. 

The new pace sensation of India got injured during a trial session of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). It is reported that after delivering a few balls, the pacer got injured. Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, this update is considered a major setback for the pacer.

Ahead of the Indian Premier League auction, Ashok Sharma emerged as the latest pace sensation of Indian cricket. The bowler is known for his pace and controlled bowling skills. It is said that the seamer can clock 150 kmph. An Indian fast bowler with a capability of bowling at a serious pace, undoubtedly, can be an asset in upcoming days for Indian cricket.

The 23-year-old is not a new face in the domestic cricket circuit. IPL franchises have enough information about the bowler. During the IPL 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan Royals secured his service, but he is yet to make his IPL debut. In the past, Ashok Sharma served as a net bowler for Rajasthan Royals (RR) before first landing an IPL deal for INR 55 lakhs in 2022 for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). As he did not get match time with the Kolkata-based franchise, he again moved to RR through the mega auction for INR 30 lakhs.

Read More: 'I got message from DK sir'- Young uncapped Indian batting sensation reveals big ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Ashok Sharma, Indian pace sensation injured in RCB trials 2026

For the last few weeks, Indian cricket fans showed their interest in the pacer and tried to attract franchises' attention through various social media posts. Sharma attended RCB trials with the hope of securing another IPL deal. But, as of now, his chances in IPL 2026 are under uncertainty.

According to reports, Sharma was bowling in the nets. After delivering a few balls, he received an injury. The nature of the injury is not clear yet. As of now, fans can only pray for his speedy recovery. For Rajasthan, he was taking wickets on a regular basis. In his last 5 matches for Rajasthan, Sharma picked up 12 wickets.

Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, an uncapped Indian batting sensation has revealed something big about Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After the revelation, it is believed that the batter has a chance to join the IPL 2025 winning team. 

Before the upcoming Indian Premier League auction, there are multiple emerging cricketers who grabbed the attention of the Indian cricket fans. Some of them went for the trials arranged by the IPL franchises. Kartik Sharma is one of the emerging batters who creates a lot of buzz on social media platforms nowadays. 

Sharma has established himself as a prolific batting prospect who played for Rajasthan in Indian domestic cricket. 2025 has turned out as a landmark year for the batter as he performed brilliantly for Rajasthan in multiple matches. If we look at his batting stats, it is understandable why Sharma is worth an IPL contract for the upcoming season. 

Read More: Who is Aaron George who built 212-run partnership with Vaibhav Suryavanshi for India in U19 Asia Cup match?

Who is Kartik Sharma?

Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old batter, is making headlines after an online conversation. He claimed that Dinesh Karthik, batting coach of RCB, messaged him. "My favorite franchise is RCB & I got a message from DK Sir," he said. 

In the last month, Kartik smashed a couple of centuries for the Rajasthan cricket team—120 vs Delhi and 139 vs Mumbai. These two hundred-plus runs against two big teams are proof of his batting talent. Through the domestic matches, the middle-order batter not only showed his batting techniques and resilience but also displayed his hitting abilities. Whenever he spotted a loose ball, he loved to go big. It was previously reported that Kartik was in one of RCB's trials ahead of the auction.

Liam Livingston wreaked havoc in Sharjah. He shamed 8 over boundaries during an ILT20 2025 match when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders was up against Sharjah Warriorz on December 3. Livingston, who played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) season, 

In the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz match, the England all-rounder scored 82* runs off only 38 balls. He decorated his innings with a couple of 4s and eight over-boundaries. Sherfane Rutherford, Alex Hales, and Alishan Sharafu also played their parts well. Because of the team effort and Livingston's unbeaten 82-run knock, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders registered 233 runs in 20 overs, batting first. 

Livingston was at his peak during the final over of the innings when Dwaine Pretorius came to deliver the remaining six balls. In this over, the batter hit 5 sixes in total. Livingston started the over with a six, followed by a 2, and then back-to-back-to-back-to-back sixes in a row. He scored a total of 32 runs in the over, displaying excellent batting.

Read More: Watch: Rohit Sharma's animated reaction as Kuldeep Yadav midfield during IND vs SA 2nd ODI

Explosive batting from RCB star Liam Livingston 

All 8 sixes of liam livingstone 🥶💜pic.twitter.com/ysJli1hDwJ

— Zaid ᴷᴷᴿ (@zaidyyy96) December 3, 2025

Sharjah Warriors tried hard to get a win by defeating Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, but the target was too big for them to achieve. Dwayne Pretorius scored 39 runs, and Tim David scored a half-century, but the rest of the batting line-up let the home team down. In front of a massive total of 233 runs, Warriors could get only 194 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. 

The explosive batting of Liam Livingston definitely caught the attention of IPL franchises, as multiple teams will try to cash in for an overseas all-rounder who can hit the ball hard. Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, RCB did not retain Liam Livingston. In IPL 2025, in 8 innings, the all-rounder scored only 112 runs for RCB, including a 54-run innings.

Ahead of IPL 2026, cricketers who are out of Team India are trying to do their best in the 2025 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025). On the opening day of the T20 tournament, the experienced pacer of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a huge impact for Uttar Pradesh. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with his controlled bowling and swing, took a couple of wickets on Wednesday (November 26) for Uttar Pradesh against Goa. Along with taking those wickets, he proved to be the most successful bowler of his team in terms of conceding the least number of runs. In his 4-over spell, the seamer got 2 wickets at an economy rate of 5.75. 

Goa went to bat first at Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground in Kolkata and lost Ishaan Gadekar, one of their openers, early in the innings. Kumar bowled him out cleanly. Next, the pacer took on Rajashekhar Harikant at the moment when the keeper-batter was about to accelerate the run rate. 

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RCB star Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked-up brace for UP in SMAT 2025

Batting first, Goa registered 172 runs in exchange for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Uttar Pradesh did not face too much trouble chasing down the competitive total. With 10 balls and 6 wickets in hand, they successfully chased down the target and won the match with ease. Aryan Juyal, opener of Uttar Pradesh, remained unbeaten for 93 off 57 as he smashed eleven boundaries and three over boundaries effortlessly. 

RCB Retained Players: 

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has sparked a heated row after they decided on retaining pacer Yash Dayal in their squad before the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The controversial announcement raised a huge uproar on social media platforms due to allegations that Yash Dayal, the pacer, is involved in serious crimes in two reported cases, one in Jaipur and one in Ghaziabad. Previously, the pacer was banned from playing in the UP T20 League over accusations of sexual and financial exploitation of a long-term partner. The Jaipur case is even more serious, with complaints claiming that he raped a minor over the course of two years. As a result, RCB has faced serious criticism for retaining Yash Dayal in light of the ongoing investigation.

Fans expressed extreme disappointment, calling the franchise's action "shameful", "diabolical", and "shameful," with many claiming to discontinue any future support for the team. The criticism intensified when Dayal's state team Uttar Pradesh had previously already deprecated him for the very same allegations. Social media was on fire with calls for accountability as fans and followers questioned how a franchise built around a global icon in the way of Virat Kohli would employ a player with terms of allegations like these against him. Many felt the decision by RCB tarnished the brand name of the franchise and communicated an irresponsible message at a time when sports organizations around the world have increasingly taken stronger stances when addressing off-field conduct.

RCB and Virat Kohli are helping Yash Dayal,who r@ped two girls (Source : TOI)#IPL2026 #ipl pic.twitter.com/yNNEus1GbH

— KickAndCatch (@KickAndCatcw) November 16, 2025

Read More: Watch: Rishabh Pant caught and bowl by Simon Harmer in IND vs SA 1st Test

Legal Context and Debate over the RCB's Decision

It should be noted that while Dayal has been booked under sections of the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), none of those allegations have been substantiated in a court proceeding. There are two separate FIRs, which are still in Vesting, and legally, IPL teams would not be required to release players - unless ordered by the court or BCCI.

To maintain their own brand value, public trust, and minimize reputational harm, teams typically distance themselves from players under criminal investigation. Choosing the opposite route, RCB has created a firestorm of ethics vs. legality and placed the franchise under tremendous public pressure as IPL 2026 nears.

On Sunday, November 16, New Zealand and the West Indies kicked off their three-match ODI series at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. After winning the toss, the visitors, the Windies, opted to field first hoping for some early breakthroughs in what appeared to be helpful scenes. New Zealand went on to score a sound 269/7 in their 50 overs, with Jaydon Seales giving the best performance, ending with three valuable wickets. Nevertheless, not everything was going perfectly for the West Indies, as one of their key players would suffer an unfortunate injury during the innings.

Romario Shepherd, a key part of the Windies white-ball setup, would only bowl four overs before leaving the field with discomfort to the thigh area. The way the all-rounder hobbled out created an immediate cause for concern for teammates, and fans alike. A short time later the West Indies team management confirmed that Shepherd had pain in his left hamstring, and he would not be returning to the field for the New Zealand innings. 

The update also confirmed that though Shepherd was unfit to continue bowling, he was still available to bat should it be required. In an official statement, West Indies Cricket said he would be monitored closely and indicated that management did not want to take any chances with one of their leading all-rounders. This precautionary measure is meant to lessen the risk of Jenkins aggravating the injury as there are still two ODIs to be played.

See Also: Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained and released players list ahead of IPL 2026 auction

RCB Camp Concerned as IPL Star Faces Fitness Scare

Shepherd's injury has also caused a strong reaction from fans in India, particularly Royal Challengers Bengaluru supporters. The 30-year-old was a critical part of RCB's historic title win in 2025, which ended a lengthy trophy drought and his historic final quarter played an essential role in the franchise's ascendance to significant success. Given his all-area contributions throughout RCB's successful campaign, the franchise considers him an integral part of their future planning.

Just a day before the match, on November 15, RCB revealed their retention list for IPL 2026, with Shepherd highlighting the names expected to maintain the roster prevailing under Rajat Patidar's leadership. Since IPL is just a couple of months away, any injury concern surrounding the Caribbean behemoth will cause worry for the franchise. For now, the club and RCB faithful will hope that Shepherd's hamstring issue is minor, and that he is fully recovered in-time for a crucial season, built on the notion of defending the championship in Bengaluru.

A week before The Ashes, Australia sustained multiple injury concerns in the form of superstar pacer Josh Hazlewood and reserve pacer Sean Abbott. Both of the seamers were sent for scans on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales and Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Because of the niggle, none of them returned to the field for the remainder of the day.

Speaking about the double injury concerns, Australia captain Pat Cummins provides updates. Because of a back issue, Cummins, who was already ruled out of the first Test against England, was informed that the niggle of Hazlewood was probably not too serious, and he is hopeful to see him in the highly anticipated Test series. Though, he was not so optimistic about the availability of Sean Abbott.

"Joshy (Josh Hazlewood) was pretty confident when he walked out, so hopefully it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. It’s rare to get him chipper, so it was good to see him smiling. He knows his body really well. I think he was a little bit worried and wanted to get it checked out. I only saw him briefly, but he was a bit happier afterwards," Cummins said about Josh Hazlewood. Later,

Read More:Search for Ravindra Jadeja 2.0 ends! Uncapped allrounder from UP can ignite bidding war in IPL 2026 auction

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar also got injured ahead of IPL 2026

Cricket Australia, in a statement, informed that the ace pacer is all clear to join the national camp for the Ashes. "(Hazlewood) underwent precautionary scans, which have cleared him of muscle strain. He will train as planned in the lead-up to the first Test in Perth," Cricket Australia said in its statement. 

The niggle of Josh Hazlewood not only worried the Australian cricket fans but also the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, as their IPL 2025 winning captain, Rajat Patidar, is already out with a muscle injury and is expected to remain out of action for about four months. As of now, it is unclear when Patidar could make a comeback into competitive cricket. If the nature of the injury he sustained proves more serious, then the RCB skipper can miss the initial few matches of IPL 2026.