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IPL 2027 mini-auction: Should RCB release any players despite successfully defending their title?

IPL 2027 mini-auction: Should RCB release any players despite successfully defending their title? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

RCB won back-to-back IPL titles, but there's still some room for improvement.
Suyash Sharma's expensive economy and poor wicket-taking record make him a prime release candidate.
Devdutt Padikkal's low strike rate and Rasikh's high economy also make them likely mini-auction casualties.

Which players should RCB release despite winning the IPL 2026 title?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history by winning back-to-back IPL titles after beating Gujarat Titans on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Andy Flower and his coaching unit deserve every bit of the credit coming their way, but the franchises that fall after defending a title almost always share one common trait: they celebrated too long and changed too little.

MORE: From coaching staff to players, RCB bound a winning franchise with IPL 2026 triumph

If RCB want a third consecutive trophy in 2027, the think tank needs to be as ruthless in the mini-auction as it has been on the field.

Kohli's 675 runs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 28 wickets were the pillars of RCB's 2026 season, and both deserve enormous credit.

However, three players in particular, spinner Suyash Sharma, batter Devdutt Padikkal, and seamer Rasikh Salam, seem to be the weak links as they do not reflect the quality the two-time defending champion needs if they are going to push for a third.

MORE: Has any player won three IPL titles back-to-back? Full list

Suyash Sharma: Is the spinner a lucky charm or a liability?

Suyash Sharma's back-to-back-to-back title medals with KKR in 2024, and RCB in 2025 and 2026 make for a great story.

However, in 27 IPL appearances, he has taken just 18 wickets at an average of 45.22 and an economy rate of 8.75. Those numbers are difficult to justify for any bowler, let alone one operating at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where small boundaries punish anything short of excellent.

Although RCB paid just ₹2.6 crore for his services, they can always re-invest that amount for a hidden gem spinner, who might add a new dimension to their spin attack.

MORE: Flower wins back-to-back titles as RCB coach after LSG exit

Yash Dayal: RCB should look for a replacement

Yash Dayal is staring at an uncertain future, and RCB should free up ₹5 crore by releasing him before the mini-auction.

He mentioned that the team management decided to keep him out of IPL 2026, and they might decide to do away with him in 2027.

Dayal said, “They haven’t removed me from the team, and they haven’t even announced a replacement because maybe they still see me as part of the squad. It wasn’t my personal decision to opt out of this season. The statement may become controversial, but decisions are always taken by the authorities… I miss it a lot and feel like I should be there.”

Jitesh Sharma: Chance to free up ₹11.5 crore

Jitesh was acquired for a massive 11 crore in the 2025 mega-auction to be the team’s "finisher" during the slog overs.

In 2026, he had a poor outing with the bat. In 16 matches, Jitesh managed just 116 runs at a dismal average of 12.89. Moreover, his strike rate plummeted from 176 in 2025 to 122.11 this season.

For an 11-crore specialist finisher, a strike rate near 120 is unsustainable. Releasing Jitesh allows RCB to reset their lower-middle order with a power-hitter, who can build on the momentum set by Rajat Patidar and help Tim David in the death overs.

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