Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) have won back-to-back Indian Premier League (IPL) titles and have looked ruthless in both years. RCB played one of the most competitive games of cricket in the last two years and looked very strong against any of their opponents. The squad included stars like Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, but no team is perfect. However, no matter how strong a team is, there are always some weak areas, and RCB knows it very well. Ahead of IPL 2027, RCB may look to release a few players who failed to make a strong impact during the 2026 season.
Why could Jitesh Sharma be released?
Jitesh Sharma had a disappointing IPL 2026 despite being one of RCB’s expensive players. The franchise spent ₹11 crore on the wicketkeeper-batter, but he could not justify his price tag.
Jitesh scored only 116 runs in 16 matches, with his highest score being just 23. His poor batting form could make it difficult for him to keep his place in the squad for IPL 2027.
Why is Romario Shepherd’s place under threat?
West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd was part of RCB’s title-winning teams in both 2025 and 2026. However, his performances were not very impressive.
In IPL 2026, Shepherd played 15 matches, took only 7 wickets, and scored just 83 runs. He also had an average season in IPL 2025. With limited contributions in both batting and bowling, RCB could decide to move on from him.
Can RCB part ways with Suyash Sharma?
Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma has also struggled over the last two IPL seasons. Bought for ₹2.60 crore, he managed only 9 wickets in IPL 2026 after taking 8 wickets in the previous season.
His economy rate was above 9 runs per over, showing that he was expensive while also failing to take enough wickets. If RCB wants to strengthen their bowling attack, Suyash could be one of the players released before the next auction.
Will RCB make big changes before IPL 2027?
RCB are expected to review their squad carefully before IPL 2027. While their core players like Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are likely to remain important, the franchise could make changes to improve the team’s balance.
If RCB decides to release underperforming players, Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd and Suyash Sharma could be among the biggest names to leave the squad ahead of the new season.