“RCB” or Royal Challengers Bengaluru is gearing up for the IPL 2026 trading window to further improve their side after their maiden IPL championship title victory in 2025. Despite this record-breaking success, the team is oriented to correcting certain details of tactics to achieve long-term consistency and be able to maintain a competitive advantage. Their intentions are to select the players who are going to add more firepower to the batting line-up, more bowlers, especially in favorable bowling conditions such as swing bowling, and also provide dynamic all-rounders.
Below are the names of three potential players whom RCB could trade for ahead of IPL 2026
1. Glenn Phillips
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips is one of the top priorities for RCB in IPL 2026. The left-handed batsman is regarded for his explosive hitting and death overs finishing skills, which will perfectly fit RCB’s style of middle-order muscle. While Phillips has played more than 250 T20s across the world, his experience in the IPL is limited to about eight matches because of injuries and selection issues, now with the Gujarat Titans as well. His recent good performances in the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA have again brought him to the notice of IPL franchises looking for aggressive middle-order strikers.
RCB wants to use Phillips’ untested potential and finishing ability to fill the gap left by underperforming Liam Livingstone, who was let go following an abysmal 2025 season. Phillips provides the much-needed depth and flexibility at bat, particularly at high-stakes end overs when scoring runs fast is paramount. Apart from batting, Phillips’s power-hitter role can vary RCB’s finishing options, thus enhancing the batting lineup’s balance and pressure-resistance.
2. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer is one name that has been rumored to be in the running to be picked up by RCB. Iyer is a left-handed batsman who also bowls medium pace and is thus a nice all-rounder in T20 sides. But chances of his picking are deemed less this season with RCB’s current composition of players and the success of existing players such as Devdutt Padikkal.
If the opportunity presents itself, Iyer can be used to bolster the middle order and offer bowling alternatives, thereby allowing RCB extra team selection flexibility. His aggressive style and the ability to bat at any position in the batting order suit the approach of RCB of having a strong and flexible top and middle order that can strike at crucial parts of the game.
3. Mukesh Kumar
Mukesh Kumar of Delhi Capitals has been regarded as a wonderful option who would add to the strength of the RCB pace bowling attack, especially in the earlier overs. Mukesh has the type of bowling that suits the circumstances in Bengaluru, considering the M Chinnaswamy stadium, where normally early swing plays a part, and he has the swing bowling know-how. His ability to take wickets by deceiving with a new ball would offer a lifeline to the bowling department of RCB.
Mukesh has appeared in 32 IPL games and has a wicket-haul of 36, reflecting both maturity and success in limited-overs cricket. His acquisition would be an added factor to the seam bowling department of RCB as he will balance the team out in terms of both experience, like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Further, RCB’s requirement of an able fourth seamer makes Mukesh a tactical pick since he might complement an attack-line pace trio committed to swing and seam movement.
Why These Targets Make Sense for RCB
The transfer strategy designed by RCB for the IPL 2026 season is to play a strong bench with multi-dimensional players who can play in multiple positions, and hence create an equal balance of power and stability in the batting and bowling departments. This gesture would enable them to keep up their winning stride and also address the loopholes that may come up in a long and competitive game.
Also Read: “I Work a Lot Harder” – AB de Villiers Explains Why He Didn’t Take MS Dhoni’s IPL Path
Summary of Player Profiles
| Player | Role | Key Strengths | Reason for Target |
| Glenn Phillips | Middle-order batter | Explosive power hitter, finisher | To add finishing strength and middle-order firepower, replacing underperformers |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-rounder | Left-handed bat, medium-pace bowler | Adds batting depth and bowling flexibility |
| Mukesh Kumar | Fast bowler | Swing bowling, wicket-taker | Strengthens new-ball attack, suits Bengaluru pitch conditions |
Conclusion
RCB’s three potential targets in the IPL 2026 trade window, Glenn Phillips, Venkatesh Iyer, and Mukesh Kumar, offer precise solutions to their squad needs. Phillips stands out as the prime finishing power hitter ready to energize RCB’s middle order. Mukesh Kumar is a tactical addition to enhance pace bowling with swing at the start of the innings. Venkatesh Iyer, though slightly less likely, remains a valuable option for all-around capabilities and flexibility.
