3 players who could replace Yash Dayal if he is released from RCB squad for IPL 2026

RCB retained Yash Dayal for INR 5 crore ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

We are just a few days away from the start of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), and the defending champion, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are yet to finalize their pace bowling combination.

Josh Hazlewood will miss the first few matches, while Yash Dayal has not joined the team and is unlikely to feature in the IPL 2026. The left-arm pacer is going through a legal issue, and the franchise hasn’t spoken about the pacer. Some media reports confirmed that Dayal won’t be part of the IPL 2026 as he has been released by the franchise.

That is where it will be important for RCB to find an ideal replacement for the coming season. Dayal played a key role last season, which is why he was retained by the franchise for INR 5 crore. But with his unavailability, we will talk about three bowlers who can be an ideal replacement for him if RCB release him for IPL 2026.

3 players who could replace Yash Dayal at RCB if he is released for IPL 2026

3. Simarjeet Singh

Simarjeet Singh can be a proven candidate for RCB to replace Yash Dayal. The 28-year-old has played three IPL seasons and has represented CSK and SRH. He has taken 11 wickets in 14 IPL matches and is aware of the pressure of an IPL game.

In T20s, he has taken 47 wickets in 42 games at a decent economy rate of 8.73. He swings the new ball and has pretty decent variations for the death overs. That makes him an ideal replacement for the IPL 2026.

2. Akash Madhwal

Akash Madhwal is another name, who impressed everyone with his debut season in the IPL. He made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2023 and finished with 14 wickets in 8 matches. His 5/5 against LSG in the eliminator helped MI make it to the qualifiers. But in the next two seasons, he didn’t get many chances.

He was with RR last season and took four wickets in four games. But he is a quality death bowler, and had a pretty decent SMAT season for Uttarakhand. He has bowled at Wankhede Stadium, which is considered a batting paradise and can be effective at Chinnaswamy Stadium as well.

1. Chetan Sakariya

RCB can also look at Saurashtra’s left-arm pacer Chetan Sakariya as a replacement. The 28-year-old is not a new name in the IPL and has played 20 matches with three teams: RR, DC, and KKR. He has 20 wickets at a decent economy rate of 8.62.

His slower ones are very effective in death overs. He didn’t have much game time last season and was released later on. But he can be a great addition to RCB. His left-arm angle, with the ability to contain the batters at death, can be very useful for RCB in the IPL 2026.

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