Players with highest fees in RCB squad in IPL 2026: For IPL 2026 season, Virat Kohli remains the highest-paid player in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad with a retention fee of ₹21 crore. Following their first-ever title win in 2025, RCB maintained a core group of expensive retentions while adding key players in the December 2025 mini-auction.
Highest Fees in RCB Squad (IPL 2026)
Virat Kohli: Role: Batter | Fee (INR): ₹21.00 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Josh Hazlewood: Role: Bowler | Fee (INR): ₹12.50 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Phil Salt: Role: WK-Batter | Fee (INR): ₹11.50 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Rajat Patidar (C): Role: Batter | Fee (INR): ₹11.00 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Jitesh Sharma: Role: WK-Batter | Fee (INR): ₹11.00 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Role: Bowler | Fee (INR): ₹10.75 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Venkatesh Iyer: Role: All-rounder | Fee (INR): ₹7.00 Crore | Acquisition Status: Highest 2026 Auction Buy
Rasikh Salam: Role: Bowler | Fee (INR): ₹6.00 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Krunal Pandya: Role: All-rounder | Fee (INR): ₹5.75 Crore | Acquisition Status: Retained
Mangesh Yadav: Role: All-rounder | Fee (INR): ₹5.20 Crore | Acquisition Status: 2026 Auction Buy
Key Auction Highlights
Venkatesh Iyer: Secured for ₹7 crore after a bidding war with KKR, making him the franchise’s most expensive signing of the 2026 mini-auction.
Mangesh Yadav: An uncapped domestic sensation from Madhya Pradesh, bought for a significant ₹5.20 crore.
Jacob Duffy: The New Zealand pacer was acquired at his base price of ₹2 crore as cover for Hazlewood.
RCB in IPL 2026, so far…
As of April 5, 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has made an emphatic statement in their title defense. In their opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the defending champions clinicaly chased down a target of 202 in just 15.4 overs.
RCB’s campaign has been highlighted by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 69 and a stellar debut by Jacob Duffy, who claimed 3/22. Currently holding a massive Net Run Rate of +2.907, RCB enters their second match in IPL 2026 against CSK with maximum momentum.
