Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have assembled a strong squad ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League, where they will be determined to defend their maiden title. he entered IPL 2026 Mini-Auction on Tuesday, December 16, with a purse of Rs 16.40 crore. During the event, they included eight players.
While Venkatesh Iyer was their most expensive purchase after being bought for Rs 7 crore, his place in the playing eleven is not guaranteed. On this note, CricTracker takes a look at how an ideal playing combination can help the Bengaluru-based franchise increase its chances of being the best once again when they play in the upcoming season.
RCB predicted playing 11 for IPL 2026 after the auction
Top order: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal
Phil Salt has been an enforcer at the top of the order in the IPL over the last two seasons. He scored 403 runs in 13 matches at an average of 33.58 and strike rate of 175.98. England's wicketkeeper-batsman has the ability to single-handedly win at least 4-5 matches in a season.
Virat Kohli There was a brief phase in the IPL when his consistency with the bat deserted him. However, he is now back to his best and has scored more than 600 runs in each of the last three seasons. Last year his average was 54.75 and strike rate was 144.71.
Despite Venkatesh Iyer being brought into the setup, Devdutt Padikkal may retain his place at No. 3. Devdutt Padikkal has been in much better form in the last 12 months in domestic cricket. He has also upgraded his hitting ability, making him someone who can take over an innings and even change gears when needed.
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