Defending an IPL title is hard, but retaining a championship-winning core is even harder. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enters the upcoming IPL 2027 auction cycle riding high on back-to-back title victories in 2025 and 2026. However, the harsh reality of the auction purse and strict salary caps means no squad can remain entirely untouched.
Following discussions among analysts and the media, the RCB management is reportedly closely scrutinizing several high-cost and underperforming players. Balancing the wage bill to secure their core stars like Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar will require shedding some weight from the roster.
Here are four players RCB might release before the hammer goes down at the IPL 2027 auction.
Jitesh Sharma
Acquiring Jitesh Sharma was initially seen as a major move to solidify the middle order, but the ₹11.5 crore wicketkeeper-batter struggled massively to justify his price tag. He had a highly difficult 2026 season, managing a mere 116 runs across 16 matches.
An average of 12.89 and a strike rate of 122.11 is nowhere near the explosive finishing standard expected from a player taking up such a massive chunk of the auction purse. Releasing Jitesh immediately frees up ₹11.5 crore, giving RCB significant financial muscle to target a more reliable domestic or overseas middle-order enforcer.
Yash Dayal
Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal was brought in for ₹5 crore to add variety to the Bengaluru pace battery. However, Dayal found himself largely on the sidelines, seeing very limited action and frequently getting benched during parts of the 2026 campaign.
Spending ₹5 crore on a bowler who spends significant time carrying drinks is a luxury few IPL teams can afford. Dayal currently stands as a prime candidate for release as RCB looks to optimize its fast-bowling budget heading into the new cycle.
Suyash Sharma
Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma cost the franchise ₹2.6 crore but largely failed to contain runs or pick up wickets consistently during the middle overs. He played 12 matches and managed to take only 9 wickets at a poor average of 41.78.
To make matters worse, his economy rate hovered at an expensive 9.21. In a high-scoring venue like the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, control is everything. Releasing Suyash allows RCB to search for a more economical wrist-spinner in the auction pool to partner with their frontline attack
Mangesh Yadav
Despite paying a hefty price of Rs 5.25 crore, Mangesh Yadav didn’t have many opportunities for RCB last season. The 24-year-old Karnataka player only featured in the Impact Player bench but wasn’t included in the side once. As the auction approaches, RCB may look to offload him and utilize the money for some other talent, or buy him back at a lower price.