Supporters of RCB are still celebrating the victory of winning the IPL 2025 title – a moment that shifted the years of disappointment that the Bollywood style slogans of chant, “Ee sala cup namde.” However, the wishful thinking of a deep dream has come true for most of the game. With their triumph, the remnants of the IPL 2026 mini auction may also be hard to ignore. Just like the rest of the franchise, RCB has to make some sacrifices.
The team of this season have let go of the five players which also includes some key RCB players which played important roles last season. Let’s analyze the players that have been released and the reasons behind letting them go.
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RCB Released Players IPL 2026:
- Suyash Sharma (Bowler)
- Liam Livingstone (Allrounder)
- Rasikh Salam Dar (Bowler)
- Nuwan Thusara (Bowler)
- Yash Dayal (Bowler)
Breaking Down the Decisions
Equally as astonishing is the decision to release Livingstone, a solid power hitter who can also offer a bit of spin bowling. At the franchise, the discourse surrounding his release centered around lost potential due to fitness, lack of consistency, and overall inertia. Perhaps the price tag scaring the RCB from acquiring him, is the same price RCB is willing to pay for a more reliable value in an overseas all-rounder.
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Suyash Sharma is a name who, in the eyes of many, has not been given the deserved opportunity to show his abilities. Despite his super job performances, he could not fully establish himself in a XI cluttered with spin options. Yash Dayal alongside Sharma and the other spinners showcased brilliance at times, but consistently struggled to find consistency in a league with such tight competition as the T20s.
Younger and still emerging, Rasikh Salam and Nuwan Thusara are relatively unheralded pace prospects, who had tough competition for the same position. At any given point in a match, with players like Mohammed Siraj and Reece Topley defending, their chances of playing are in abundance.
What This Means for RCB
Releasing five players is more a case of optimizing the squad rather than a large-scale rethink, and the continued focus of the franchise seems to be on the core. Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj will be retained while additional players, especially an allrounder, will be targeted at the mini auction.
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Having lifted the trophy, the next and more difficult task for RCB is to keep winning. Parting with these players is the first step of a finely tuned approach for doing precisely that.
