RCB’s Big Shake-Up: 3 Players Who Could Be Released Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

3 Players Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Might Release Before IPL 2026 Auction

The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t just about exciting games; it’s also about the tough team decisions made during auctions. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) get ready for the IPL 2026 auction, they’ll likely let go of some players to save money and create a better team. Here are 3 players RCB might drop before the IPL 2026 auction, based on how they’ve played, how much they cost, and what the team needs.

Lungi Ngidi – South African Pacer in Poor Form

South African pacer Lungi Ngidi played a pivotal role for Chennai Super Kings in 2018, when they won the title. Ngidi took 29 wickets in 16 IPL matches, and had managed to have an economy of 8.53.

• RCB contracted Ngidi for IPL 2025, at his base price of 1 crore.
• Ngidi played only 2 matches in IPL 2025 having taken 4 wickets, at an economy of 10.12.
• With Josh Hazlewood back in the squad, Ngidi may not even come close to fitting into RCB’s thinking.

Ngidi’s struggles occurred just when RCB were looking for experience in overseas pacers, and now that he has been inconsistent, he is likely on the list of potential players to be released even before the IPL 2026 auction.

Also Read: Fastest Century in IPL History (2008-25)

Mayank Agarwal – A Skilled Batter with a Restricted Role

The seasoned opener, Mayank Agarwal has been associated with multiple IPL teams and has accumulated 2756 runs in 131 matches at a strike rate of 133.52.

• RCB took him on board as an injury replacement for Devdutt Padikkal in IPL 2025.
• In 4 games, Mayank collected 94 runs at a strike rate of 148.43.
• With Padikkal being back in 2026, Mayank’s position is apparently unclear.

Taking into account the squad balance and salary cap, it is highly probable that RCB will let go of Mayank to make room for the next auction’s young batting talent.

Rasikh Salam Dar: Big Price Tag, Not Much Action

Young bowler Rasikh Salam Dar has been on four teams in his short IPL time. He’s taken 10 wickets in 13 games, but his economy is a bit high at 10.62.

• RCB bought him for a hefty ₹6 crores in the 2025 big auction.
• He only played 2 games in 2025, having a hard time securing his place.
• With Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yash Dayal in front of him, he didn’t get many chances.

Because of his big salary and not playing much, RCB will probably let Rasikh go before the 2026 auction.

RCB’s plan for the IPL 2026 auction will almost certainly focus on reinforcing their bowling department, while also developing a solid Indian batting core, in which they will look to axe players like Ngidi, Mayank Agarwal, and Rasikh Salam, in order to free up resources for better players.

Do you think RCB will go this route? Let us know in the comments!