Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Released and Retained Players List 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally won their first-ever IPL trophy in the IPL 2025 season beating Punjab Kings in the final. Meanwhile, the planning has already begun for next season. Several RCB news reports have suggested a number of players are on their way out, that could include the likes of Liam Livingstone etc. In this article, we take a look at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Released and Retained Players List 2026 season.

In the mega auction where only a limited number of players were allowed to be retained, but this is completely different in 2026. We will have an IPL Mini Auction for IPL 2026 where the teams have no limit on retention and they can even retain the whole squad of IPL 2025 season.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Released and Retained Players List 2026

However, RCB is still likely to make some changes with quite a few names to be on the released players list. Retained players will have the same salary as their IPL 2025 season. So let’s look at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Released and Retained Players List 2026.

List of players RCB is likely to release ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

Liam Livingstone

The biggest name that could be in the RCB released players list is English all-rounder Liam Livingstone. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru bought him for INR 8.75 crore in the mega auction to bring in his fireworks at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, he had a pretty dismal campaign. The Englishman scored 112 runs in 8 innings. Although he played a valuable knock of 25 runs off 15 balls in the final match, he is still likely to be released as he is on a big salary.

His top score in the tournament was 54 runs vs Gujarat Titans but delivered mostly low scores in the other matches. RCB would be looking to add the INR 8.75 crore in their purse for next auction, aiming to further bolster their squad.

Lungi Ngidi

South African pacer Lungi Ngidi could be on his way out of the franchise too. The 29-year-old pacer played only 2 matches in which he picked 4 wickets, including 3 wickets vs Chennai Super Kings and one wicket vs SRH. However, the pacer was mostly very expensive, conceding runs over 10 economy rate.

Also, he left the franchise just before the IPL 2025 playoffs to regroup with the South African team who are preparing for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final vs Australia. He was bought for INR 1 Crore in the auction and RCB would be looking to add that amount in their purse for the next auction.

Nuwan Thusara

Hailed as the regen of Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga due to his similar slingy bowling action, he was brought into the RCB camp for INR 1.60 Crore in the mega auction. However, he played 2nd fiddle to Josh Hazlewood.

The Sri Lankan pacer played in only 1 match and he took 1 wicket for 26 runs vs the Lucknow Super Giants. RCB will be looking to add that 1.6 Crore into their purse heading into IPL 2026 Mini Auction.

Rasikh Salam

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) invested a whopping INR 6 Crore on Indian young pace bowler Rasikh Salam Dar. However, right-arm pacer had limited opportunities, 2 games, in the IPL 2025 season. In the those opportunities, he picked only 1 wicket and conceded runs at over 11 economy rate. So expected Rasikh Salam to be included in RCB released players list.

Blessing Muzarabani & Tim Seifert

RCB had to bring in Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani and Tim Seifert as replacement of Lungi Ngidi and Jacob Bethell after both players joined their respective international teams. Both players didn’t feature in the IPL 2025 season for the side. They are guaranteed to be on the released players list 2026. The duo were brought in as temporary replacement and according to BCCI rules and regulations, all the players who were signed after the IPL 2025 resumed for the 2nd half, won’t be allowed to be on the retained players list 2026.

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RCB Retained Players List for IPL 2026 Auction

As the defending champions, RCB would be looking to retain most of their squad for the IPL 2026 season. And at the top of the list will be former captain Virat Kohli. The star Indian batter was retained for whopping INR 21 Crore ahead of the mega auction. After scoring 657 runs in IPL 2025 season, he will definitely be on RCB retained players list with the same salary.

Rajat Patidar is the new age hero for RCB. After Virat Kohli carried the franchise for 17 years, Rajat Patidar led and won the IPL trophy in his debut season as the captain of the franchise. He scored 312 runs in 14 innings and displayed great leadership. He will be retained by the franchise for his INR 11 Crore Salary from IPL 2025 season.

Joining from defending champions KKR, Phil Salt won back-to-back IPL trophy, this time for RCB. He was bought for INR 11.50 Crore in the Mega Auction and went on to score 403 runs in 13 innings. He formed a strong opening partnership with Virat Kohli that allowed RCB to start the games on the front-foot. Salt is all but confirmed to feature in the RCB retained players list.

Josh Hazlewood finished as the top wicket-taker for RCB in the IPL 2025 season. The Aussie pacer took 22 wickets in 12 matches. He was the sides best bowler and RCB bowlers struggled in his absence. Hazlewood is set to continue in IPL 2026 for RCB for the salary of INR 12.50 Crore.

Krunal Pandya was the hero of the IPL 2025 final vs Punjab Kings. He took 2 wickets for 17 runs in his 4 overs. Throughout the campaign, Krunal added valuable contributions with the bat and ball. He scored 109 runs and took 17 wickets total in the season. He will definitely be in RCB retained players list for IPL 2026 for INR 5.75 Crore.

Veteran pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar also played a pivotal role for RCB to be crowned champions of IPL 2025 season. Joining from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 10.75 Crore in the Mega Auction, the India international pacer picked 17 wickets in 14 matches, including 2 wickets in the final. He is also expected to continue with RCB in IPL 2026 season.

RCB Full Retained Players List 2026