Royal Challengers Bengaluru will spend the 2026 campaign without Yash Dayal after director of cricket Mo Bobat confirmed the left-arm seamer is unavailable for “the entire season”. The 26-year-old remains on the club’s books, yet a personal matter – and the legal case that accompanies it – means he will not link up with the squad.
“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 told reporters on Tuesday. He offered no extra detail, citing privacy. Dayal has not bowled competitively since last June’s IPL final and still faces sexual-assault charges filed soon after that match.
Bobat admitted the uncertainty forced RCB to plan for the worst when they sat down at December’s player auction. “Yash Dayal situation was tricky,” he said, adding that management carried several mock-drafts in which the quick was listed as unavailable.
The problem has now grown. Josh Hazlewood, their senior overseas fast bowler, is set to miss at least the opening fortnight while Cricket Australia monitors a longstanding side strain. Bobat remains cautiously upbeat: RCB, he noted, are working with CA and hope to “have him very soon”.
Until then, the pace department feels light. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s new-ball nous will be vital, but behind him stand a cluster of uncapped Indian quicks – Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh and Mangesh Yadav – plus overseas recruits Jacob Duffy and Nuwan Thushara. West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd adds some pace, although his strength lies lower down the order with the bat.
On paper it is enough to start a tournament; in practice RCB now need form, fitness and perhaps a touch of luck to keep their attack firing through a seven-week season.
