Kohli to open with Salt; Venkatesh Iyer to replace Padikkal: RCB strongest XI for IPL 2026

RCB strongest XI for IPL 2026 [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction is done and dusted, and all ten teams have built a solid core for the upcoming IPL season. While some franchises have utilised their purse to perfection, others have failed to do so. One team that had a brilliant mini auction was the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

The defending champions have made some shrewd buys in the mini auction and have bought a total of 8 players to strengthen their team. With the RCB squad completed, here is how the reigning IPL champions could lineup in the IPL 2026 season.

RCB IPL 2026 retention list

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.

RCB IPL 2026 auction buys

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)

RCB full squad for IPL 2026

Here is the complete list of RCB players for the IPL 2026 season and let us now analyse their strongest XI for the next season.

RCB IPL 2026 squad analysis

Top Order: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer

RCB have always had a settled top-order and same is the case for the upcoming season. At the opening slot, there is the dynamic duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, who complemented each other perfectly in the last season and were pivotal in RCB’s title win.

While Salt is the aggressor, Kohli is an accumulator and can change gears at will and this worked perfectly for the team last season.

The Venkatesh-Padikkal dilemma for RCB

Last season, Devdutt Padikkal, the local boy was outstanding for the franchise at number 3 before he got injured and was ruled out of the tournament. He was retained ahead of the upcoming season, but RCB made an interesting move in the auction by going heavily on Venkatesh Iyer, the ex-KKR man as the team purchased him for 7 crores.

There is no way that RCB will bench Venkatesh after buying him for a hefty amount, but does benching DDP solve their issues?

(DDP and Venkatesh Iyer in IPL)

• Both have almost similar numbers, but what separates Padikkal from Venkatesh is the strike rate, the Madhya Pradesh batter possesses. While Venkatesh has an IPL strike rate of almost 138, Padikkal sits well below at 126.
• Padikkal had a strike rate of 150 last season, but overall, Venky had had more of an impact, and interestingly, he is a big game player, having performed in the playoffs before. Hence, the ex-KKR player will most likely bat at number 3, with Padikkal warming the bench, unless an injury takes place.

Middle and lower order: Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya

In terms of impact, RCB has assembled the best middle-order in the league. Captain Rajat Patidar will bat at 4, and then follows the destructive trio of Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd, and all three of them boast stellar numbers from last season.

(RCB trio in IPL 2025)

• This is where RCB truly won the league last year. Even if the bowlers take wickets of Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, and Salt, RCB pose a fearsome middle order batters, and add Krunal Pandya into the scheme of things, who was the MVP of the side last year, the defending champions have almost all the bases covered.

Bowlers: Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood

• RCB’s bowling was underrated last year, but the team has a few chinks in its armour. While Suyash Sharma is a brilliant defensive bowler, he lacks the wicket-taking ability. But since he is a proven performer for the team, he will likely start the first few matches.
• Now comes RCB’s two old guards - Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood was the second leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2025 season, and he was accompanied by Bhuvi, who played a brilliant second fiddle.

(RCB's reliable bowlers in IPL 2025)

• Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood combined to take 39 wickets in the IPL 2025 season and it was one major reason why the franchise ended their title drought.
• In the back-up, RCB has Mangesh Yadav, who is a dynamic all-rounder and can come in as a left-handed pacer if RCB needs a bit of variety in the attack. The franchise spent a hefty amount on him and he could come in handy as an impact player.

RCB's strongest XI for IPL 2026 season

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood

Impact player - Devdutt Padikkal, Mangesh Yadav, Yash Dayal

---

ALSO READ

Gaikwad to open, Samson at 3; Dhoni to finish with Jadeja replacement: CSK strongest XI for IPL 2026

---