RCB Kicks Off Pre-Season Training Amid Yash Dayal Controversy

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have kicked off their pre-season training for IPL 2026, entering the tournament as defending champions. However, the absence of fast bowler Yash Dayal, who is facing serious legal allegations, has raised questions about his future with the team. As RCB prepares for their opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the situation surrounding Dayal remains uncertain, with speculations about his potential removal from the squad. This article delves into the team's preparations and the implications of Dayal's legal troubles on RCB's season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 21, 2026, 01:13 IST

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Begin Preparations for IPL 2026

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the reigning champions, have commenced their pre-season training ahead of their IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, scheduled for March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

This season marks the first time in 19 years that RCB enters the tournament as defending champions, focusing on maintaining a balanced squad. All players, except for Josh Hazlewood, who will be absent for the initial matches, gathered at the team's home ground for their first training session on March 18, officially launching their title defense preparations.

Key players including captain Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Devdutt Paddikal, and Jitesh Sharma participated in an intense nets session, gearing up for their opening match against the 2016 champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Yash Dayal's Absence Raises Concerns

While most players have reported for training, fast bowler Yash Dayal's absence has raised concerns regarding his availability for IPL 2026. Dayal was retained by RCB for 5 crore, but he is currently embroiled in legal issues following allegations of rape, leading to an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Jaipur.

The Uttar Pradesh pacer faces two separate FIRs from different victims, one in Ghaziabad for allegedly exploiting a woman under the pretense of marriage, and another in Jaipur, where he is accused of repeatedly assaulting a minor in 2023 and again in April 2025, prompting police investigations under both the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act.

Due to these serious allegations, Yash Dayal was barred from participating in the last season of the UP T20 League and the recent Indian domestic cricket season.

Speculations About Dayal's Future with RCB

Dayal's absence from training has led to speculation that RCB may have quietly removed him from the squad without an official announcement, given the ongoing controversy. A user on X (formerly Twitter) noted that Dayal's image was missing from the squad's promotional materials, further fueling rumors about his potential exclusion from the IPL 2026 roster.

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, RCB has not officially removed Dayal from the squad, and his name remains on the IPL 2026 player list. As a precaution, RCB has signed Mangesh Yadav, a young pacer from Madhya Pradesh, for INR 5.2 crore as a backup in case Dayal is unavailable.

Since joining RCB in 2024, Yash Dayal has taken 28 wickets at an average of 33.17 and an economy rate of 9.36 over 29 matches, playing a crucial role in the team's first IPL victory last season.