IPL 2026: RCB pacer Yash Dayal to miss tournament with personal reasons

Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Yash Dayal will miss Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to personal reasons. The development was confirmed by RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat on March 24. He confirmed that the pacer will remain contracted with the team.

"Spoke to him earlier today, but decided it's not in his and franchise's best interest to join the squad due to the personal situation he's dealing with," Bobat said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Dayal has not played any cricket since the 2025 IPL final in June, facing charges over an alleged sexual assault and exploitation. The left-arm pacer played a critical role in RCB's titular triumph in 2025, picking 13 wickets at an economy rate of 9.59 in 15 innings, including a frugal spell of 1 for 18 in the summit clash against Punjab Kings.

"Yash Dayal's situation was tricky," Bobat said. "We went into auction planning in a worst-case scenario that he won't be available."

Dayal's unavailability could dent RCB's bowling plans, not least because the team will be without the services of Australia speedster Josh Hazlewood in the early part of the season as he continues his recovery from hamstring and Achilles issues.

RCB have veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, New Zealand's Jacob Duffy, Sri Lanka's Nuwan Thushara, West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd in their ranks. They also have uncapped Indian quicks Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh and Mangesh Yadav.

RCB will start their title defence at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener.

Full RCB squad for IPL 2026

Batters: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal

Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Jordan Cox

Allrounders: Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Satwik Deswal, Kanish Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal

Spinners: Suyash Sharma

Fast bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, Mangesh Yadav, Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh