Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) enter IPL 2026 as defending champions. After 18 long years, RCB finally lifted their first IPL trophy in 2025. They beat Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This historic win ended years of heartbreak for the franchise and its loyal fans.
RCB is one of the most popular teams in the IPL. The franchise has a massive fan following across India and the world. Star player Virat Kohli has played for the team since 2008. His loyalty and dedication played a big role in this first title win.
For IPL 2026, RCB retained their core winning squad. They added a few key players in the mini auction to strengthen their lineup. The team aims to defend its title and perform consistently throughout the season.
RCB Owners
United Spirits Limited (USL) owns Royal Challengers Bangalore. USL is a subsidiary of Diageo, a British multinational company. Vijay Mallya originally bought the franchise for $111.6 million in 2008. He stepped down as director in 2016. Since then, USL has handled all operations through Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd.
The ownership has focused on strong management and brand growth. This approach helped RCB become one of the most valuable IPL franchises. Their first IPL title in 2025 significantly boosted the team’s brand value to $269 million.
RCB Squad For IPL 2026
RCB retained 17 players from their title-winning squad. They bought 8 new players in the IPL 2026 mini auction held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025. The team spent nearly their entire purse of INR 16.4 crore.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Devdutt Padikkal |
| Wicketkeepers | Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Jordan Cox |
| All-rounders | Krunal Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan |
| Bowlers | Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy |
Key Players For RCB In IPL 2026
RCB has several match-winners who can change the game single-handedly. Here are the key players to watch.
| Player | Role | Key Highlights / IPL 2025 Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Top-order Batter | Most runs in IPL history (8,600+); scored 657 runs in 2025; 43 runs in the final. |
| Phil Salt | WK / Opener | Explosive start; 403 runs in 2025 with a massive 175.98 strike rate. |
| Krunal Pandya | All-rounder | POTM in 2025 Final (2/17); first player to win two POTM awards in IPL finals. |
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast Bowler | Pace spearhead; specialized in death bowling during the title run. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Fast Bowler | Swing specialist; took 2 wickets in the final; master of powerplay/death overs. |
| Venkatesh Iyer | Middle-order Batter | 2026 Mini-Auction signing (INR 7 crore); provides left-handed power-hitting. |
RCB Records In IPL (2008-2025)
RCB has created several memorable records since joining IPL in 2008. Here are the key statistics.
1. Top Run Scorers For RCB
| Player | Span | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 2008-Present | 267+ | 8,600+ |
| AB de Villiers | 2011-2021 | 157 | 4,522 |
| Chris Gayle | 2011-2017 | 91 | 3,420 |
2. Top Wicket Takers For RCB
| Player | Span | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 2014-2021 | 113 | 139 |
| Harshal Patel | 2012-2023 | 80 | 99 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 2018-2024 | 87 | 83 |
3. Highest Individual Score For RCB
| Player | Score | Opposition | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 175* | PWI | 23 April 2013 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| AB de Villiers | 133* | MI | 10 May 2015 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| AB de Villiers | 129* | GL | 14 May 2016 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Chris Gayle | 128* | DD | 17 May 2012 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Chris Gayle | 117 | KXIP | 06 May 2015 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
4. Best Bowling Figures For RCB
| Player | BBI | Opposition | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Kumble | 5/5 | RR | 18 April 2009 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 5/18 | SRH | 08 May 2022 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Jaydev Unadkat | 5/25 | DD | 10 May 2013 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Harshal Patel | 5/27 | MI | 09 April 2021 | M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Samuel Badree | 4/9 | MI | 14 April 2017 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
5. Highest Totals
| Total | Opposition | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 263/5 | PWI | 23 April 2013 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 262/7 | SRH | 15 April 2024 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 248/3 | GL | 14 May 2016 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 241/7 | PBKS | 09 May 2024 | Dharamshala |
| 235/1 | MI | 10 May 2015 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
6. Lowest Totals
| Total | Opposition | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | KKR | 23 April 2017 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 68 | SRH | 23 April 2022 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| 70 | RR | 26 April 2014 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 70 | CSK | 23 March 2019 | M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 82 | KKR | 18 April 2008 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
RCB’s IPL Journey
RCB joined IPL in its first season in 2008. The team quickly became a fan favorite due to its star-studded lineup. Players like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle created magic over the years.
RCB reached the final three times before 2025. They finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016. In the 2016 season, Kohli scored 973 runs. This remains the highest individual tally in any IPL season.
In 2025, RCB finally broke the jinx. Captain Rajat Patidar led the team brilliantly. Coach Andy Flower’s strategies worked perfectly. The team defeated Punjab Kings twice in the final week to lift the trophy.
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RCB’s Chances in IPL 2026
RCB looks strong heading into IPL 2026. They retained their winning core and added valuable players like Venkatesh Iyer and Jacob Duffy. The team has experience, balance, and depth across all departments.
Their batting lineup features proven performers. Kohli, Salt, Patidar, and Tim David can score quickly against any bowling attack. The addition of Venkatesh Iyer gives them a left-handed option in the middle order.
The bowling unit looks complete. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar handle the new ball. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma provide spin options. Jacob Duffy adds pace bowling depth as backup for Hazlewood. RCB has a strong chance to defend their title in IPL 2026.
