Royal Challengers Bengaluru have a strong and well-balanced squad for IPL 2026, but the absence of Nuwan Thushara forces a slight change in their bowling combination. With multiple all-rounders and experienced pacers available, RCB still have enough depth to build a competitive playing XI.
The squad includes key names like Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, and Josh Hazlewood, along with strong all-round options like Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd.
RCB Predicted Playing XI (Without Thushara)
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt (wk)
- Rajat Patidar (c)
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Glenn Maxwell (if in squad variation / overseas option)
- Cameron Green (or Romario Shepherd)
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood (if available)
- Yash Dayal
- Suyash Sharma
Strong Batting Core Remains Intact
RCB’s biggest strength is their batting depth. The top order of:
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Rajat Patidar
- Devdutt Padikkal
provides a perfect mix of experience and aggression. This combination ensures stability in powerplay and acceleration in middle overs.
All-Rounders Provide Balance
RCB’s squad is built around multi-skill players, which helps compensate for bowling gaps.
Key all-round options:
- Krunal Pandya (spin + batting depth)
- Romario Shepherd (power hitting + pace)
- Jacob Bethell / Venkatesh Iyer (backup options)
This flexibility is exactly why RCB focused heavily on all-rounders in the auction. Fans can track player roles in the IPL 2026 Players.
Bowling Attack Without Thushara
Without Thushara, RCB’s bowling still looks solid but slightly less dynamic.
Likely Bowling Core:
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (experience + swing)
- Josh Hazlewood (if available)
- Yash Dayal (left-arm option)
- Suyash Sharma (leg-spin)
The team loses a specialist death-over bowler, but gains stability with experienced names.
Key Change: Less Death Bowling Variety
Thushara’s absence removes a unique weapon:
- Slingy action
- Yorker specialist
- T20 death overs control
Now, responsibility shifts to:
- Hazlewood
- Bhuvneshwar
- Shepherd (if selected)
This could be a concern in high-scoring matches.
Overseas Combination Strategy
RCB must carefully choose their 4 overseas players:
Likely Overseas Picks:
- Phil Salt
- Josh Hazlewood
- Romario Shepherd / Bethell
- One batting all-rounder
This balance will decide their final XI.
Impact Player Options
RCB can use Impact Player smartly:
- Extra batter while chasing
- Extra bowler while defending
Possible names:
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Tim David
- Swapnil Singh
This gives them flexibility even without Thushara.
Can RCB Still Start Strong?
Despite the setback, RCB remain one of the strongest teams in IPL 2026 due to:
- Deep batting lineup
- Multiple all-rounders
- Experienced Indian core
If their bowlers perform consistently, they can easily handle early challenges.
