The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have taken a different approach to the IPL 2026 retention deadline, opting to retain 17 players from their championship-winning squad while releasing eight. This decision has left them with INR 16.4 cr for the upcoming mini-auction. The retention strategy has been analyzed based on the Retention Value Score (RVS) and Release Risk Score (RRS) for each player. The core of the team, including players like Virat Kohli, Tim David, and Phil Salt, have been retained with high RVS scores. Key bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have also been retained. The release of players like Liam Livingstone and Mayank Agarwal, with moderate RRS scores, has raised questions about potential regrets. Overall, RCB’s retention strategy focuses on continuity and faith in their existing squad, with a cautious approach to the auction. The success of this loyalty-heavy approach will depend on the performance of the retained players and any potential new additions in the upcoming season.
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