Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: The IPL 2026 Champions
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the IPL champions for the second year running. After 17 seasons without a title they won in 2025 and again in 2026, beating Gujarat Titans in the final at Ahmedabad. This page lists the title-winning squad, the final, and what happens before 2027.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru at a Glance
| Owner | Royal Challengers Sports |
| Home ground | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2026 captain | Rajat Patidar |
| 2026 head coach | Andy Flower |
| IPL 2026 finish | 1st of 10, 18 points; champions |
| IPL titles | Two: 2025, 2026 |
What Has Changed Since IPL 2026
- No squad, coaching or captaincy changes had been announced as of 14 October 2026. Rajat Patidar remains captain and Andy Flower head coach.
- Ownership: on 24 March 2026 United Spirits, part of Diageo, agreed to sell the company that owns the franchise to a consortium of the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone for about $1.78 billion, subject to approvals including the BCCI's, as Gulf News reported. We have not seen confirmation that the sale has completed.
The IPL 2026 Squad
These are the 26 players the IPL lists for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2026, 9 of them overseas. The list includes players brought in during the season as injury replacements, so it runs past the 25-player limit.
| Player | Role | Indian or overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter | India |
| Jacob Bethell | Batter | Overseas, England |
| Jordan Cox | Batter | Overseas, England |
| Phil Salt | Batter | Overseas, England |
| Rajat Patidar (captain) | Batter | India |
| Swapnil Singh | Batter | India |
| Tim David | Batter | Overseas, Australia |
| Venkatesh Iyer | Batter | India |
| Vihaan Malhotra | Batter | India |
| Virat Kohli | Batter | India |
| Jitesh Sharma | Wicketkeeper | India |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | All-rounder | India |
| Krunal Pandya | All-rounder | India |
| Romario Shepherd | All-rounder | Overseas, West Indies |
| Abhinandan Singh | Bowler | India |
| Jacob Duffy | Bowler | Overseas, New Zealand |
| Josh Hazlewood | Bowler | Overseas, Australia |
| Kanishk Chouhan | Bowler | India |
| Mangesh Yadav | Bowler | India |
| Nuwan Thushara | Bowler | Overseas, Sri Lanka |
| Rasikh Dar | Bowler | India |
| Richard Gleeson | Bowler | Overseas, England |
| Satvik Deswal | Bowler | India |
| Suyash Sharma | Bowler | India |
| Vicky Ostwal | Bowler | India |
| Yash Dayal | Bowler | India |
The 2026 Season
Bengaluru topped the league on net run rate, one of three sides on 18 points, then beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 after making 254 for 5. In the final on 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Patidar chose to bowl, Gujarat made 155 for 8, and Bengaluru won by five wickets with 12 balls to spare. Virat Kohli made 75 not out from 42 balls and was player of the match. They became only the third side, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to retain the title.
Titles and Finals
Two titles, 2025 and 2026, and three lost finals, in 2009, 2011 and 2016, all as Royal Challengers Bangalore. The franchise changed its name to Bengaluru from the 2024 season. The full roll of finals is in Outlook India's list of winners and runners-up. Our guide to the IPL teams compares all ten.
The 2027 Auction
IPL 2027 squads will be settled at a mini auction in Goa in December 2026, the BCCI secretary confirmed on 23 September 2026; the exact date has not been announced. Before it, franchises submit the players they are keeping and releasing; a deadline of 15 November 2026 has been reported but not confirmed by the BCCI. Under the 2026 rules a squad can hold up to 25 players, no more than eight of them overseas. We will update this page with the 2027 squad after the auction. Our guides to IPL retention rules and the IPL auction explain how it works.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Shirts
We do not have a Royal Challengers Bengaluru shirt in stock at the moment; IPL shirts from any side can come in an IPL mystery box. Our guide to Royal Challengers Bengaluru jerseys covers the team's kits.
FAQs: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
Who won IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final on 31 May 2026.
Who is the RCB captain?
Rajat Patidar.
Who is the RCB coach?
Andy Flower.
How many IPL titles have RCB won?
Two, in 2025 and 2026.
When did RCB become Royal Challengers Bengaluru?
From the 2024 season. Until then the franchise was Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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