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IPL 2026 Trades: RCB, KKR's Surprising Player Swaps That Could Work Wonders For Both Teams

Debashis Sarangi

KKR and RCB players [Source: IPLT20.com]KKR and RCB players [Source: IPLT20.com]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have had a fierce rivalry in the Indian Premier League. From the infamous Gambhir-Kohli tussle to the historic 49 all-out, the RCB versus KKR matches have always witnessed iconic moments in the tournament. 

Known for their passionate fan base, RCB and KKR had contrasting IPL campaigns in the IPL 2025. While KKR suffered a group-stage exit, RCB finally broke the title drought and clinched the coveted trophy for the very first time. 

While KKR would be keen to form a new-look team to change their fortunes, RCB still have a few areas to work on ahead of the next season. In such a scenario, here are three trade deals that could help both sides fine-tune their respective lineups. 

Venkatesh Iyer - Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell

What RCB will get - A proven performer at 3, an upgrade over Mayank and Padikkal

What KKR will get - A solid opener, an experienced middle-order batter, who can bowl

  • Kolkata Knight Riders couldn’t allot a suitable entry point to Venkatesh Iyer in the IPL 2025. Despite performing admirably at 3 (15 innings, 562 runs, 43.23 average, 168.77 strike rate) in the IPL, Iyer was made to bat lower down the order, with newly appointed skipper Ajinkya Rahane replacing him at 3. 
  • While Rahane brought out his best version and amassed the most runs for the team, Iyer was a pale shadow of himself, managing 142 runs at an average of 20.29. So, considering KKR won’t likely axe Rahane now, they might decide to exclude Iyer from the squad and add a whopping 23.75 Crores to their purse. 
  • As per several reports, RCB is one of the teams that have shown interest in Venkatesh Iyer. So, if KKR initiate talks with the defending champions, they must carefully execute the deal, keeping in mind what they need to stabilise their side. 
  • KKR had an evident middle-order woe during the IPL 2025. While Venkatesh Iyer clearly failed as a number five batter, the likes of Rinku Singh, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh couldn’t live up to the hype. 
  • Therefore, it would be a logical move to include Liam Livingstone in the mix. Besides scoring valuable runs, Livingstone also offers a handy bowling option. Also, as they will be empowering RCB with a swashbuckling top-order batter, they could also demand Jacob Bethell from RCB to ensure a reliable opener in their setup. 
  • Bethell is an excellent top-order batter who mostly warmed the bench, with RCB preferring Phil Salt as Virat Kohli’s opening partner. Thus, such a move could ensure a first-choice top-order batter like Iyer in RCB while helping KKR strengthen their batting unit through the inclusion of Livingstone and Bethell. 

Ramandeep Singh- Rasikh Dar

What RCB will get - An explosive finisher, a useful pacer and a great fielder

What KKR will get - An Indian pacer with excellent variations

  • Explosive all-rounder Ramandeep Singh had a forgettable season with the bat in IPL 2025. The Punjab cricketer could amass only 47 runs across seven innings at a horrible average of 9.40. 
  • Ramandeep, who was retained for 4 Crores, had a decent season in 2024 and can offer a valuable all-round option with his bowling, fielding and finishing skills. That said, if KKR feel the budget is too high for someone like him, they could ask for Rasikh Dar from RCB in exchange for Ramandeep. 
  • Dar played only two matches in the IPL 2025, and given that RCB already has Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar, Yash Dayal, and Lungi Ngidi to lead their pace battery, they won’t mind making such a deal. 
  • Thus, RCB can have a formidable finishing core comprising Jitesh, Ramandeep, Tim David and Romario, while KKR can boost their bowling unit by signing Dar, who can be an excellent option with his variations on Eden Gardens’ flat deck (15 T20 wickets at a SR of 14.6 in 7-20 overs). 

Spencer Johnson - Nuwan Thushara

What RCB will get - A tall left-arm new-ball bowler with international experience

What KKR will get - An all-phase bowler who can swing the ball and nail yorkers in slog overs

  • Spencer Johnson has been tried multiple times by KKR in the IPL, but the flat surfaces haven’t really suited his bowling style (1 wicket in 4 innings for KKR, SR 68, Economy 11.74). 
  • Meanwhile, Nuwan Thushara was one of RCB’s reserves whom they didn’t use in the IPL 2025. However, if these two players are swapped through a trade, such a move can work wonders for both sides in the IPL 2026. 
  • KKR currently have a solitary reliable new ball bowler in Vaibhav Arora. If they manage to get Thushara, they can have a pacer with incredible credentials to wreak havoc across all three phases (158 wickets in 119 innings, SR 14.6). 
  • On the other hand, Spencer Johnson will fulfil RCB’s quest for a tall left-arm pacer who can capitalise on Bengaluru’s playing conditions that offered significant assistance to the fast bowlers in the 2025 season. The likes of Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar were highly impactful, and Johnson’s addition to their lineup will only boost their pace battery.