3 Players In RCB IPL Squad Who Might Not Play A Single Match In 2026 Season

RCB begin their IPL 2026 campaign vs SRH [Source: AFP]The IPL 2026 is set to get underway on March 28, with RCB taking on SRH in the first match of the competition. The high-octane clash will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB enjoyed stellar success in the 2025 season, being crowned as the IPL champions for the very first time in 18 years. The Bengaluru-based franchise registered a narrow six-run win over Punjab Kings, breaking their IPL title jinx at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Considering they ended up winning the IPL in 2025, the Royal Challengers retained their core group, comprising Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Although Josh Hazlewood could miss a few IPL 2026 matches due to fitness concerns, RCB have several players who can help them defend their title. Meanwhile, there are also some players in the RCB IPL squad who might not play a single match this season. Jordan CoxWhy Jordan Cox might not get a single match for RCB in IPL 2026?England's destructive top-order batter Jordan Cox entered the RCB IPL 2026 squad when the defending champions secured his services for INR 75 lakh. Cox is a renowned T20 player in the English domestic circuit, having proved his mettle in The Hundred competition. However, despite carrying the reputation of a fierce striker of the cricket ball, Jordan Cox might not play a single match for RCB in IPL. Interestingly, two players from his own country, England, are likely to shatter Jordan Cox's IPL 2026 dream. Phil Salt is set to play as RCB's first-choice opener with Virat Kohli, while Jacob Bethell will likely be preferred as his backup. Salt was impressive with the bat last season, amassing 403 runs at an average of 33.58 and a blistering strike rate of 175.98. Meanwhile, Bethell showcased remarkable form with the bat in T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 280 runs, including a sensational century against India in the semifinal. Therefore, considering Salt will open the batting and Bethell's red-hot recent form keeps him ahead of Cox in the pecking order, the latter might warm the bench throughout the season. Also read: RCB's Record At Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru and Raipur Stadium Before IPL 2026Vihaan MalhotraWhy Vihaan Malhotra might not get a single match for RCB in IPL 2026?Young Indian batter Vihaan Malhotra grabbed the limelight when he smashed a string of impactful scores in the Youth ODIs against the Australia and England U19 teams. His consistency made him a hot prospect in the IPL 2026 auction, as he joined the RCB IPL 2026 squad for INR 30 lakhs. Vihaan Malhotra is a promising left-handed batter who primarily plays at the top order. Given that the Royal Challengers have plenty of left-handed options- Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer and Jacob Bethell- for a similar role, Malhotra might not get a single match for the defending champions. Jacob DuffyWhy Jacob Duffy might not get a single match for RCB in IPL 2026?Jacob Duffy became a part of the RCB IPL 2026 squad when the defending champions purchased him for INR 2 crores. Considering Josh Hazlewood has suffered multiple injury setbacks of late, it was speculated that the Royal Challengers bagged him as a potential replacement for the injury-prone Australian pacer. Duffy was indeed magnificent with the ball in T20Is last year, scalping 35 wickets across 21 matches. However, although the Royal Challengers roped him in following his T20I exploits, Duffy failed to replicate similar success in the T20 World Cup in India this year. The New Zealand pacer could pick only three wickets in five wickets, registering an abysmal economy rate of 10.87. So, we believe Duffy has fallen back in the pecking order as far as Hazlewood's RCB replacement is concerned. In such a scenario, Abhinandan Singh, who bowled beautifully in the intra-squad matches, might be picked as a surprise package in the RCB playing XI. Young fast bowler Rasikh Dar may also emerge as a strong candidate for the second seamer's role, having showcased his death-bowling skills in the IPL. Also read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Professionalism Questioned By RCB Star In IPL 2026