Decoding the fate of released RCB players from IPL 2025 season in mini auction 2026

Fate of RCB rejected players in mini auction [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction is set to take place on Tuesday, December 16, and all ten franchises have done their pre-auction preparations as they aim to strengthen their side for the next season. Before the auction day, the retentions took place as the franchises kept the best of the lot and released the unwanted stars.

Ahead of the next season, the focus will be on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB. The side kept their core for the next season, and have released a total of 7 unwanted players ahead of the next season. In this piece, we analyse the seven players to decide whether they will fetch any buyers in the auction, and the teams that can bid for them.

RCB released players ahead of mini auction

Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Mohit Rathee

Swastik Chikara

• Swastik Chikara came into the IPL season with a ton of hype as he had done well in the domestic circuit, but interestingly, the team management had some other plans as the hard-hitting batter didn’t play a single game and warmed the bench for the entirety of the season.
• He was not included in the original list of players finalised for the mini auction, but the IPL eventually added him to the list. However, there is a chance that he might not get a buyer in the auction due to him not playing a single game last season. Despite Padikkal’s injury and a couple of players not turning up for the league last season, the RCB management showed no trust in him, and hence, he might not get any bid.

Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal went unsold last season, but with Padikkal ruled out due to an injury, he came in as his replacement and did fairly well at number 3.

• Agarwal played only four matches and left his mark, but the Karnakatak player was eventually released. He is a proven IPL performer, and teams can actually go after him in the mega auction.
• RCB can get him back as they need a backup Indian batter in the squad, and also, DC could be tempted as the side needs an opener to complement KL Rahul at the top.

3) Liam Livingstone

Alongside Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone is expected to fetch a hefty price in the IPL mini auction. Surely, last season was not his best with the bat, but the English all-rounder has been a credible performer.

(Livingstone in IPL)

• Overall, Livingstone has been a stellar performer in the IPL, as the batter has a staggering strike rate of 158 and will be a hot commodity in the mini auction. Teams like KKR, who need a like-for-like Andre Russell replacement, could go after him. Also, CSK need a finisher ahead of MS Dhoni, and they could be tempted to run after him as well.

4) Manoj Bhandage

A talented Indian domestic player, Manoj Bhandage, was not used much last season as the cricketer only played a solitary match and didn’t do much.

Just like Chikara, he couldn’t do much last season, and for the same reason, there is a good chance that the other IPL sides might not be interested in buying him for next season.

5) Lungi Ngidi

When Josh Hazlewood was not around for a few matches last season, Lungi Ngidi replaced him and played a couple of games. He scalped 4 wickets for RCB, but was released from the side ahead of the mini auction.

For the South African side, Ngidi has been stellar in T20Is, picking up 74 wickets in 53 matches, and the Proteas spearhead is likely to find a suitable buyer in the auction.

Teams like LSG need a quality overseas pacer in their ranks, and so does KKR, who have been depleted ever since Anrich Nortje and Spencer Johnson were released.

6) Blessing Muzarabani

Another player who didn’t get a chance to feature in any of the matches for RCB, Muzarabani, was released by the team ahead of the auction, and he was not included in the final list of players who will go under the hammer on Tuesday.

7) Mohit Rathee

The same is the case with Mohit Rathee. He was unused by the RCB management as the team had a settled combination, and franchises didn’t get a chance to see his talent. Hence, don’t be surprised if Rathee remains unsold.

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