RCB IPL 2026 Preview: Rajat Patidar To Bet on Bench Strength for Second Crown

As the dust settles after India went back-to-back in the T20 World Cup, the cricket landscape's focus shifts to the premier franchise tournament, the IPL.

In its 18th season last year, the cash-rich league finally witnessed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, secure their maiden title - a feat that had eluded their star-studded teams for years.

What they have set right over the recent past is construct a well-oiled machine engineered by Mo Bobat and Andy Flower. They brushed aside top-heavy names, and distributed their firepower across all fronts of their squad.

But except Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, no other side in the tournament has won it two years on the trot, highlighting how unpredictably cruel the league can be. Having finally shaken off the perennial underachievers' tag, can RCB write another chapter in their history?

RCB Squad - IPL 2026

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Swapnil Singh, Suyash Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Vicky Ostwal, Nuwan Thushara, Kanishk Chohan, Rasikh Dar, Satwik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma, Jordan Cox, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Vihaan Malhotra, Jacob Bethell, Jacob Duffy, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh.

Strong nucleus fuels role clarity

RCB's biggest strength this season will be their first-team security. They could walk out with the exact same XI that took down the upbeat Punjab Kings in the finals last year, and no one would back against their playoffs chances.

A batting lineup where Krunal Pandya is used as a shock-absorber at number eight speaks volumes of the enviable depth, without the need for an impact player.

To add to their robust top order, they acquired their longstanding target, Venkatesh Iyer, in the mini auction last year for INR 7cr. The experienced southpaw infuses flexibility to the batting arsenal, and can slot in anywhere across the top five.

Pressure on backups to deliver

Jordan Cox and Iyer are fantastic second-string options. And while RCB can hold their heads high after the auction for plugging plenty of gaps, pressure will be on Jacob Duffy and Mangesh Yadav, both of who could be suiting up for their debuts in the opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on the 28th of March.

Yash Dayal hasn't played any competitive cricket since the final in 2025 due to off-field allegations, while Josh Hazlewood continues his way back from hamstring and achilles injuries that kept him out of the Ashes and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.

While Mangesh remains untested on the biggest stage, he is well-known around the domestic circuit for his control with the new ball. Duffy, meanwhile, scalped three wickets in the WC across five matches, all coming against lesser-fancied oppositions in Afghanistan, UAE and Canada.

Home comforts in 2026?

Cricket will return to the M Chinnaswamy stadium in 2026, with RCB slated to play five of their seven home games in Bengaluru, it'll be interesting to see if the most successful touring side of 2025 can reward their boisterous local support with wins.

They possess one of the strongest and most passionate crowds across the country, which ultimately is the cherry on top of a side expected to forge a strong title defense.

RCB Predicted XI

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav. Impact player: Suyash Sharma

RCB Season Predictions

League Position: 3rd

Top Run Scorer: Virat Kohli

Top Wicket Taker: Bhuvneshwar Kumar