3 Royal Challengers Bengaluru players who might be benched in IPL 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enter into the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as defending champions after dominating throughout the previous year and beating the Punjab Kings in the final by six runs. They now have to play with a more responsible approach and mindset in order to defend their maiden title, which they got the hold of after a long wait of eighteen seasons. 

They looked quite active in the auction, filling in minor squad holes and signing reliable backups in key areas. With a packed squad, there might be a few names that may have to sit out for the season if the Rajat Patidar-led unit intends to build a winning combination.

Here are 3 RCB players that could be benched for whole IPL 2026

3) Jordan Cox

The English wicketkeeper-batter was picked up for base price in the auction as a reliable backup for Phil Salt. Jordan Cox has established a reputation of being a fierce ball striker, with an aggressive style for batting. He led the run-scoring charts in the 2025 Men’s Hundred, helping Oval Invincibles (now MI London) to their third triumph. Apart from value with the bat, he adds great skill behind the stumps and is also a gun fielder.

Cox is obviously the like-for-like backup for Salt, but with Jitesh Sharma already in the squad, his services as a wicketkeeper may not be necessary. And as a pure batter, his direct competition comes from the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer and English hotshot Jacob Bethell, who all have the added advantage of being left-handers.

2) Nuwan Thusara

With Josh Hazlewood missing the opening leg of the season due to fitness issues, Nuwan Thushara might have found himself in the playing XI, but with the addition of New Zealand speedster Jacob Duffy, the hope remains just a glimmer. A bowler with an unorthodox action, Thushara has proven himself to be an accurate wicket-taker across the global franchise circuit, but his returns in the IPL have not been impressive.

Often being compared to fast-bowling legend and compatriot Lasith Malinga, Thushara has been part of RCB’s title-winning squad, but the team are more likely to turn to Duffy’s hit-the-deck style of bowling, similar to what Hazlewood offered, ahead of Thushara.

1) Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal was an instrumental presence for the Royal Challengers last year. Batting in the top order, he scored 247 runs at a brilliant strike rate of 150.61. The local boy has been a fan favourite after breaking out in the franchise in 2020. Fans had been clamouring for his return to the side, and he was a vital part of RCB's title-winning campaign.

But with the arrival of new signing Venkatesh Iyer, the Karnataka cricketer finds his place under threat. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has a reputation of being a destructive batter, and if in form, would be expected to slot in at number 3 over Padikkal. Another threat to his place is England's hot prospect Jacob Bethell, who has sealed his place in the Three Lions' white-ball teams and lit the world alight with his impressive century against India in the semifinals of the recently concluded T20 World Cup.