Reigning IPL champions RCB approach retention as most secure team, except for one puzzle

RCB's plans ahead of IPL 2026 retention deadline [Source: @RCBTweets/X.com]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the IPL 2026 retention window with a kind of calm they haven’t felt in years. Usually, this period brings chaos, debates, and second-guessing for RCB. 

But this time, they stand tall as defending champions, carrying the confidence of a team that finally cracked the code in IPL 2025. 

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RCB is the new perfectly balanced team

Interestingly, RCB have often been recognised for their star power, not their balance. But last season was different. 

For once, the glamour was backed by structure. Roles were clear, the XI was settled, and every player fit into the larger story of a campaign that finally ended with a long-awaited trophy. 

And because that story worked beautifully, they now have very little motivation to break it apart. 

In fact, RCB look like the most sorted team heading into the retention week. While other franchises are busy juggling their purse math, plotting bold releases, or rethinking their core, Bengaluru walk in with a simple motto: “Why fix what worked perfectly?”

RCB may not tweak the winning formula

(Table - RCB batters' stats in IPL 2025)

Their batting order was not just explosive but reliable. Their middle order, long considered the team’s weak link, finally clicked with consistency. 

Young Indian talents like Jitesh Sharma and Rajat Patidar delivered confidence, while the overseas stars like Phil Salt and Josh Hazlewood complemented them with calm experience. 

Even the bench strength had players, including Mayank Agarwal, who contributed in crucial moments. It was the kind of depth RCB supporters had dreamed of for years.

(Table - RCB bowlers' stats in IPL 2025)

Their bowling, too long their Achilles heel, was impressively disciplined. Spinners kept things tight, death bowling improved, and the new-ball pairing gave them the momentum in several matches. You don’t mess with a group like that unless you absolutely need to.

And yet, amid all the steadiness, one concern quietly lingers. One question RCB can’t ignore. One name they must think hard about.

Is Josh Hazlewood a long-term option for RCB?

(Table - Josh Hazlewood's stats in IPL 2025)

Josh Hazlewood is the only concern RCB will contemplate going forward. Hazlewood’s value to RCB in 2025 was beyond numbers.  He brought control, calmness, and an ability to break partnerships when pressure peaked. 

He was the anchor around whom the rest of the attack revolved. Many inside the team privately call him “the silent match-winner” of their campaign.

But as brilliant as he was, RCB now face a tricky dilemma. Josh Hazlewood is no longer at the youngest stage of his career. At 34, fast bowling becomes a careful balancing act. 

And in recent years, he has shown a tendency to prioritise Test cricket and international commitments, especially as Australia manage workloads more cautiously. 

RCB know loyalty matters. They also know combinations shouldn’t be tampered with. But they cannot walk into a new season blind to that reality. 

Hazlewood may not be available for full tournaments going forward. Retaining an overseas pacer nearing the final stretch of his career is always a gamble, no matter how good he still is. 

Final thought

That being said, this doesn’t mean RCB will release Josh Hazlewood. If anything, they would love to continue with him for one more season. 

But it does force them to plan ahead, to consider a like-for-like backup, to explore the next long-term leader of their pace attack, and to ensure the 2025 magic doesn’t rely too heavily on one veteran shoulder.

Aside from this one concern, RCB look calm, composed, and refreshingly sorted. For once, they aren’t chasing solutions, they’re protecting what already works.

And that, more than anything, shows how far they’ve come since lifting that trophy.

RCB likely releases - Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Mayank Agarwal, Nuwan Thushara

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