RCB’s all-time playing XI ahead of IPL 2026 with Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending champions of the IPL. They won the 2025 edition by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs to claim their much-awaited maiden title in the cash-rich T20 league. Batting first in the summit encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB scored 190-9 and then held PBKS to 184-7.

RCB reached their first IPL final in 2009, but fell to the Deccan Chargers by six runs in Johannesburg. Bengaluru FC reached the Indian Premier League final for the second time in 2011. This time, they suffered a 58-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chepauk. RCB also finished as runners-up in the 2016 IPL, losing the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Bengaluru would like to defend their IPL title. Ahead of the upcoming edition, we have compiled RCB’s all-time playing XI.

Top order: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis

Virat Kohli is the leading player in the history of IPL. In 267 matches for RCB, he accumulated 8,661 runs at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 132.85, with eight tons and 63 fifties. Kohli’s best 113* came off 72 balls against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur in 2024. The knock saw 12 fours and four sixes, but RCB lost the match by six wickets.

Of Kohli’s eight IPL tons, four of them came in the 2016 season where he amassed a record 973 runs. The right-hander also reached two centuries in the 2023 season and one each in 2019 and 2024.

West Indies legend Chris Gayle played 85 matches for RCB, scoring 3163 at an average of 43.32 and a strike rate of 152.72, with five tons and 19 fifties. His whirlwind knock of 175*, off 66 balls against Pune Warriors India (PWI) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, remains a record for the highest individual score in the IPL. The sensational knock included 13 fours and 17 sixes.

Former skipper Faf du Plessis played 45 matches for RCB, scoring 1,636 runs at an average of 38.04 and a strike rate of 146.99, with 15 half-centuries. He took over the captaincy from Kohli and did a good job. Du Plessis’ best 96 came off 64 balls against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the DY Patil Stadium in 2022. The innings consisted of 11 fours and two sixes.

Middle order: Ab de Villiers, Rajat Patidar (c) and Dinesh Karthik (wk)

The legendary AB de Villiers played 156 matches for RCB in the Indian Premier League, smashing 4491 runs at an average of 41.20 and a strike rate of 158.63, with two hundreds and 37 half-centuries. De Villiers’ best 133* was a remarkable effort, a 59-ball knock off against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in 2015. The stunning knock included 19 fours and four sixes.

Rajat Patidar will forever be remembered as the skipper who ended RCB’s frustrating title drought. In 42 matches for the franchise, Patidar scored 1,111 runs at an average of 30.86 and a strike rate of 154.3, with one ton and nine fifties. His best of 112* came off 54 balls against LSG at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the IPL 2022 Eliminator. The impressive knock included 12 fours and seven sixes.

Dinesh Karthik will be the final spinner and keeper-batsman in RCB’s all-time playing XI. In 60 matches for the franchise, Karthik contributed 937 runs at an average of 24.65 and a strike rate of 162.95, with three half-centuries. His best of 83 came off 35 balls against SRH at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2024. The combative effort included five fours and seven sixes.

Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj and Anil Kumble

Veteran Australian left-arm spinner Mitchell Starc has only represented RCB for a few seasons in the IPL. But he managed to make a mark, taking 34 scalps in 27 matches at an average of 20.38 and an economy rate of 7.16. His best figures of 4-15 were recorded against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Bengaluru in 2015.

Right-arm pacer Harshal Patel has taken 99 wickets in 80 matches for the Bengaluru franchise at an average of 23.17 and an economy rate of 8.47. Harshal got two fours and one five off during his stint with RCB. His best figures of 5-27 came against MI in Chibok in the opening match of the 2021 edition.

Veteran Yuzvendra Chahal played 113 matches for RCB, claiming 139 wickets at an average of 22.03 and an economy rate of 7.58, with two fours. His best of 4-25 came against PBKS in Bengaluru in 2026. Chahal also took 4-38 against MI in Bengaluru in the 2019 edition.

Packer Mohammed Siraj played 87 matches for RCB, taking 83 wickets at an average of 31.44 and an economy rate of 21.90, with four FARs. His best of 4-21 came against PBKS in Mohali in 2023.

Team India legend Anil Kumble played 42 matches for Bengaluru, taking 45 wickets at an average of 23.51 and an economy rate of 6.57, with two fours and one five. Kumble recorded impressive figures of 5-5 from 3.1 overs for RR in Cape Town in 2009.

Sub effect options: Glenn Maxwell, Mayank Agarwal, Zaheer Khan