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RCB’s next test: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title defence begins at IPL 2026 auction table
IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru begins the 2026 IPL season as champions. Their 2025 victory marked a historic breakthrough after 18 seasons. The team achieved sustained consistency, showcasing a complete unit. Now, RCB faces the challenge of defending their title. Strategic auction moves and potential ownership changes are likely to decide their road forward from here.
For the first time in the Indian Premier League's history, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will begin a season with the weight of having already won it. The 2026 campaign marks a clear shift in the franchise's story, from one built around promise and heartbreak to one defined by proof, performance and pressure.
RCB's long wait ended in 2025, when they clinched their maiden IPL title after 18 seasons. The championship was not the result of a one-off surge or a single player's brilliance, but a season of sustained consistency. RCB finished second in the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches, posted a positive net run rate, and won all three knockout games, including a six-run victory in a tense final against Punjab Kings. In a league that has often punished imbalance, RCB finally looked like a complete side.
The numbers underline why 2025 felt different. RCB crossed 180 in six matches, defended totals four times, and ranked among the top three teams for powerplay wickets taken. Their bowlers, long the franchise's soft underbelly, delivered at crucial moments. Josh Hazlewood finished the season with 22 wickets, Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided control in the powerplay and at the death, and the spin unit held its own on surfaces that did not always offer assistance. For a team that had often relied on outscoring opponents, RCB showed they could also win by restricting them.
Batting, too, evolved beyond dependency. Virat Kohli led the charts with 657 runs at an average above 54, but this time the load was shared. Five RCB batters crossed the 300-run mark, and the middle order contributed consistently in chases and when setting totals. The team no longer lived or died by its top three, a flaw that had undone previous RCB sides in knockout matches.
RCB's position heading into 2026 is therefore unique. They are champions, but not yet a dynasty. They have momentum, but also churn. The emotional high of 2025 has passed, replaced by the practical demands of defending a title in a league designed to prevent dominance.
Historic breakthrough: From chasing glory to champions
The 2025 campaign was a watershed for RCB. Under coach Andy Flower and captain Rajat Patidar, the side finished second in the league stage and carried that momentum straight through the playoffs to the final. In the title match against Punjab Kings, RCB posted 190 for 9 and defended it, sealing victory by six runs, finally lifting the IPL trophy after their previous best finishes as runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016.Virat Kohli, the iconic batter who has been with RCB since its inception in 2008, was central to this triumph, amassing 657 runs during the season — one of the highest tallies in the tournament. “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team… It's been 18 long years. I've given this team my youth, my prime, my experience,” said Kohli on the day of victory, in emotional reflection on the title.
That sentiment captured what the win meant not just for the squad, but for a months-long fan following that has often rooted fervently for RCB's elusive crown. It also sharpens RCB's identity, no longer perennial contenders, now champions with everything that comes with it.
Recap of mega-Auction moves: Spending for strength and balance
At the 2025 mega auction, RCB took an aggressive stance. They invested heavily in reshaping their roster and added a mix of batsmen, bowlers and multi-skill players to build a well-rounded unit. According to official squad listings, RCB spent over ?80 crore acquiring 19 players, including:Josh Hazlewood — an experienced seam bowler (Rs 12.5 crore)
Phil Salt — explosive opening keeper (Rs 11.5 crore)Jitesh Sharma — reliable wicketkeeper and middle-order bat (Rs 11 crore)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar — seasoned Indian pacer (Rs 10.75 crore)
Liam Livingstone — all-round power option (Rs 8.75 crore)
Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma and others rounding out depth and utility roles.
This auction haul strengthened batting firepower and deepened bowling options. Hazlewood wound up topping the bowling charts for RCB with 22 wickets, while Bhuvneshwar and Krunal provided sustained pressure through the middle overs. Their combined performances helped RCB defend totals and secure key breakthroughs — an area that had historically been a weakness for the franchise.
What Still Needs Fixing Ahead of 2026
Even as champions, the club has clear areas to refine before the 2026 season:Overseas finishing and batting depth: RCB's middle order benefited from match-winning innings, but contributors like Liam Livingstone did not deliver consistently enough relative to their price tag and have been released ahead of the 2026 auction. This leaves RCB seeking a reliable power-hitter or finisher who can relieve pressure on the top order and absorb tense late-innings situations.
Bowling reinforcement at the top: Although Hazlewood led the attack, and Indian pace options like Yash Dayal delivered, RCB's bowling unit is not without soft spots. Adding an elite strike fast bowler capable of consistently troubling batters in various conditions remains a priority. A middle-overs wicket-taking spinner could also fortify their options, especially on spin-friendly surfaces.
Purse and balance: RCB head into the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a purse of a little over ?16 crore after pruning their title-winning squad to create targeted flexibility rather than wholesale change. The key releases included Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert and Blessing Muzarabani, moves that freed up significant funds and overseas slots.
With limited funds and few gaps to address, RCB's auction strategy is expected and needs to be precise. The franchise is likely to eye an overseas strike pacer to support Josh Hazlewood, especially after Ngidi's release, with names like Kyle Jamieson and Alzarri Joseph expected to be in the auction pool. RCB may also monitor options for a wicket-taking spinner, with Ravi Bishnoi among the Indian names drawing interest across teams, and a middle-order batting option to replace Livingstone's role, should value picks emerge.
Looking at 2026: Sustaining Success
That 2025 title changed the franchise's standing instantly. RCB, one of the most followed teams in the IPL, moved from being a commercial giant without silverware to a champion brand. With success came higher expectations, from fans, sponsors and within the dressing room. Defending a title in the IPL is often harder than winning one, and RCB's challenge heading into 2026 is not about belief anymore, but about sustainability.The 2025 mega auction reflected that shift in mindset. RCB entered with a clear plan and spent over ?80 crore to strengthen specific roles rather than chase marquee names alone. They brought in proven international experience and Indian depth, signing players like Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Liam Livingstone. The focus was on plugging gaps that had historically hurt them, new-ball bowling, middle-order stability and finishing options.
For RCB, the task now is maintaining momentum rather than chasing it. The core batting unit led by Kohli and Patidar provides stability. Bowlers like Hazlewood and Yash Dayal have delivered at key moments, and new leaders will emerge. The auction will test RCB's ability to prioritise under budget constraints, adding pieces that not only plug holes from 2025 but elevate them further.
What remains unchanged is the franchise's resolve to compete at the highest level. Their maiden title has altered the storyline for one of cricket's most popular teams.
Ownership review and strategic shift
Lastly, the RCB narrative this season isn't confined to the boundary ropes. Off the field, United Spirits Ltd (USL), the Diageo subsidiary that owns the franchise, has initiated a strategic review of its investment in RCB's holding company. This formal process, expected to complete by March 31, 2026, could lead to a sale or restructuring of ownership.Media reports point to Hombale Films, the Bengaluru-based production house behind blockbuster films like KGF and Kantara, as a leading potential co-acquirer. If they or other investors such as Adar Poonawalla, the Adani Group or Zerodha interests come on board, that could reshape RCB's commercial reach and marketing strategy heading into IPL 2026.
A change in ownership, or the arrival of new strategic partners, may also influence how aggressively the franchise spends on talent and infrastructure. It could bring fresh capital but also new expectations around branding, fan engagement and global positioning.
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Source: EconomicTimes
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