Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to fill a few small gaps in the IPL 2026 auction. As the current champions, RCB already have a strong and settled team. After doing well in the mega auction, they do not need players for their main playing XI. Instead, they need backup players who can step in when someone gets injured or when they need a player for a specific match-up against certain teams or bowlers.
RCB have released Lungi Ngidi, so they need a new fast bowler. They have many choices for both new-ball and old-ball options. Matheesha Pathirana may be too expensive, so they can look at Reece Topley, Matt Henry, or Gerald Coetzee instead.
They have also let go of Liam Livingstone. RCB can either try to buy him back or look at players like Moeen Ali, Glenn Maxwell, or Wanindu Hasaranga. With only INR 16.40 crore left, they cannot afford someone like Andre Russell. Since only two overseas slots remain, they must choose carefully.
They also need a backup top-order batter. Getting Venkatesh Iyer will be difficult, so they might go for Prithvi Shaw or Shaik Rasheed. Among Indian all-rounders, they can target Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Atharva Taide, or Mahipal Lomror.They also need a replacement for Tim Seifert, but because they don’t have overseas spots left, they will have to pick an Indian wicketkeeper. For Indian bowling options, Simarjeet Singh and Rahul Chahar are strong choices and fit within their budget.
RCB’s Top Five Player Targets for the IPL 2026 Auction ft. Glenn Maxwell
| Player(s) | Type |
|---|---|
| Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Akash Madhwal | Fast bowler |
| Atharva Taide ,Glenn Maxwell ,Wanindu Hasaranga | Spin all-rounder |
| Vijay Shankar, Aaron Hardie | Pace all-rounder |
| Venkatesh Iyer, Prithvi Shaw | Top-order batter |
