RCB may target these 5 players in IPL 2026 auction

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) being the defending champions in this scenario, their strategy in the mini-auction will be focused on reinforcement and cover rather than a full overhaul. RCB must target these 5 players in IPL 2026 auction.

Based on the core players RCB retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, etc and the players they released notably all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Lungi Ngidi, their main gaps are:

1. A high-impact Indian left-handed middle-order/finisher. (The release of Liam Livingstone frees up budget for this role to be filled by an Indian player, or a different overseas option).

2. A quality Indian wrist-spinner (The team has retained the finger-spin of Krunal Pandya and the mystery spin of Suyash Sharma, but a specialist wrist-spinner adds variety).

3. An express overseas pace backup (To support Josh Hazlewood, especially after Lungi Ngidi’s release).

RCB must target at the IPL 2026 Mini Auction:

1. Ravi Bishnoi (Indian Leg-Spinner):

Role: Wrist-Spin Specialist

Why RCB needs him: RCB has historically struggled with a high-quality, attacking Indian wrist-spinner to take wickets in the middle overs. With Bishnoi released by LSG, he represents a rare opportunity to acquire a young, established Indian talent.

His attacking style is perfect for controlling the 7-15 over phase, complementing the slower, more containing approach of Krunal Pandya. He is an Indian High-Value pick.

2. Venkatesh Iyer (Indian Batting All-rounder/Middle-Order):

Role: Left-Handed Middle-Order Attacker

Why RCB needs him: The team has a strong right-handed core (Kohli, Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David). Iyer provides crucial left-handed balance in the middle order and can fill the void of a high-impact domestic No. 3 or No. 4.

His ability to bat deep and bowl handy pace makes him the ideal “like-for-like” replacement for the all-round flexibility lost with Livingstone’s release, but as an Indian player. He may command a huge price but is worth the investment for the team’s structure.

3. Gerald Coetzee (Overseas Express Pacer):

Role: Backup Overseas Pace/Enforcer

Why RCB needs him: Coetzee is a young, aggressive South African pacer known for generating genuine pace and bounce. After releasing Lungi Ngidi, RCB needs a quality overseas pace backup for Josh Hazlewood and Nuwan Thushara.

Coetzee offers a different dimension—raw pace—which can be a match-up nightmare on certain pitches and is a vital rotational option for Hazlewood’s workload management.

4. Akash Madhwal (Indian Death-Over Specialist):

Role: Indian Pace Depth

Why RCB needs him: While RCB retained Yash Dayal and has the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Madhwal is a proven, accurate Indian death-overs specialist who can execute yorkers under extreme pressure. He would significantly strengthen the Indian pace contingent and provide quality backup/competition to Dayal, ensuring the team is not overly reliant on their overseas pacers.

5. Mahipal Lomror (Indian Left-Handed Finisher/Utility):

Role: Budget Left-Handed Finisher/Backup

Why RCB needs him: If RCB misses out on an expensive pick like Venkatesh Iyer, Lomror provides a budget-friendly alternative. He is a capable left-hander who can strike big down the order and offer a few overs of useful off-spin.

Having been released by Gujarat Titans, he offers RCB a domestic option for that crucial left-hand, high-strike-rate, late-order batting role, which is essential for batting depth at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Also Read: Former RCB captain out from IPL 2026