Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who finally won their first IPL trophy after 18 years, are now preparing for the mini auction with hopes of winning another title. The team has eight spots to fill two for overseas players and six for Indian players and ₹16.4 crore left to spend. The management has said they want to strengthen weak areas instead of spending money carelessly.
One major worry is the fitness of Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who has been struggling with injuries. RCB is looking for a backup pacer, and players like Matheesa Pathirana, Gerald Coetzee, and Mustafizur Rahman are being considered. Spin bowling is another weak point. Even though RCB has strong batting and pace options, their spin department is not very strong. To fix this, they are targeting a specialist spinner, with Ravi Bishnoi, released by Lucknow Super Giants, as a top choice.
The team may also try again for all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer. In the 2025 mega auction, RCB bid up to ₹23.50 crore for him but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. With Iyer back in the auction pool, RCB could make another attempt, as they need a reliable Indian pace all-rounder.
There are also doubts about Yash Dayal’s availability. He has not played since the 2025 IPL final, and unless cleared by the BCCI, he may not return. Because of this, RCB is looking at young Indian fast bowlers such as Akash Madhwal, Vidwath Kaverappa from Karnataka, and Simarjeet Singh.
RCB is also interested in local Karnataka players. Mayank Agarwal, who joined last season as a replacement and played a key role in their title win, is likely to be brought back. Another Karnataka player, Abhinav Manohar, a hard-hitting finisher released by Sunrisers Hyderabad, is also on their radar.
With eight slots open and a limited budget, RCB’s plan is to make smart, cost-effective buys while strengthening the squad. The team wants to build on last season’s success and remain strong contenders in the upcoming IPL.
