Chikara smashed 21 sixes In Ayodhya Premier League [Source: X]In the IPL 2025 mega auction, the RCB management assembled a strong squad, and they also went after hidden gems to bolster their team, including the talented Swastik Chikara. The Uttar Pradesh player was bought as a backup by RCB, and not so surprisingly, he didn’t play a single game in the IPL as the team went on to win the title.Chikara was nurtured by the RCB management, but the team has enough backups for injured players, as Chikara was unused for the entire season. He travelled for every RCB match, was closely associated with legendary Virat Kohli, and lived his IPL dream moment before the franchise cut ties with him.Chikara showcases talent; makes RCB regret their decisionDespite being a promising young player with loads of potential, RCB decided to release him from their squad before the IPL 2026, and this left many in shock as Chikara had not done anything wrong.However, the explosive batter showed what RCB will be missing this season as he vented out his frustration in the Ayodhya T20 Premier League.Playing for Gomti Thunders against the Hindon Titans, the hard-hitting batter unleashed mayhem as he punished the opposition bowlers with his brute-batting and hammered 195 off 69 balls, and missed out on a golden opportunity to slam his maiden T20 double century.His thunderous innings included 21 sixes and 11 fours, with a strike rate of 282 as the bowlers looked helpless in front of his class. This was a timely reminder of what RCB lost as the batter could have contributed had an injury occurred midway through the season. This innings was a mark of frustration as the batter proved a point by showcasing his brute skills.Also Read: Virat Kohli's Close Friend Joins KKR Camp Undercover Before IPL 2026Chikara's off-field issues, a reason for his releaseTactically, RCB felt that the UP batter was not the perfect fit in their squad, and it was one of the main reasons why the management released him before the IPL 2026 mini auction.The batter became a topic of widespread discussion on social media for reasons unrelated to on-field performance. A screenshot went viral on social media, showcasing that Chikara was a paid subscriber to the Instagram-exclusive content of social media influencer Muskan Karia.Even though Swastik Chikara did nothing wrong, fans mocked the ex-RCB batter for purchasing a subscription to an Instagram account. Later on, Chikara clarified that it was an algorithm, or a technical glitch, which led to this activity.Kohli annoyed with Chikara, fans speculate the reason for his RCB removalWhen Chikara joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru side, he instantly connected with legendary batter Virat Kohli. In the videos posted by the RCB social media team, Chikara could also be seen using Kohli’s perfume without even asking him.In May 2025, Kohli even jokingly called Chikara annoying, by stating that, “ye bohot dimag khata hai,” as the youngster constantly asked for a selfie.When RCB won the IPL, Kohli fell to his knees, and Chikara ran towards him, as fans speculated that he ruined Kohli’s iconic moment, and speculations began that the Indian batter urged the management to release Chikara from the squad.Also Read: Virat Kohli Issues Official Statement On Going To London By Private Jet In Mid Of IPL 2026
