Yash Dayal nowhere to be seen in RCB training camp [Source: AFP]
The RCB-Yash Dayal saga seems to be coming to an end, as the left-arm seamer is likely to be removed from the squad for the IPL 2026 season. The pacer was accused of sexual harassment of a minor, and an FIR was registered against him last year.
The FIR was filed under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which carries a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison. Even though the court granted interim relief to the RCB pacer, he is yet to be proven guilty, and RCB received heavy backlash when the franchise retained him for the IPL 2026 season.
However, it feels the bond between Dayal and RCB is set to be over as the pacer is nowhere to be seen in the RCB training camp before IPL 2026, and speculations have been raised that he might not play for them in the upcoming campaign.
Fans react as RCB abandons Dayal
The speculation of Yash Dayal no longer being associated with RCB began when he was nowhere to be seen in the training camp. All the squad members have reached Bengaluru and have started to prepare for the new season as RCB aims to defend their crown.
However, there were no visuals of Yash Dayal, as many believed the franchise had removed him from the team. Also, he was nowhere to be seen on the team bus logo, which further added fuel to the fire.
What really happened with Yash Dayal: Know the controversy
In 2025, after RCB won the IPL title, the left-arm pacer was embroiled in several legal troubles, including sexual harassment cases. Despite this, the franchise retained him, and have now reportedly removed him from the squad.
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In July 2025 in Ghaziabad, an FIR was registered under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged sexual exploitation under the false promise of marriage. In the same month, Dayal was involved in yet another serious case as an FIR was filed in Jaipur, accusing Dayal of rape and sexual assault of a minor (under the POCSO Act).
In December 2025, the Jaipur Special POCSO Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea; however, in January 2026, the Rajasthan High Court granted him interim protection.
Who will replace Dayal in RCB squad for IPL 2026
Currently, nothing is confirmed, as RCB will play the wait game. Interestingly, the team has already purchased a like-for-like replacement in the mini auction last year.
They went hard to acquire the services of Mangesh Yadav, a left-arm seamer and a hard-hitting batter. Mangesh fetched 5.2 crore as RCB scouts decided to trust his skills for the upcoming season.
An all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, Mangesh can bat lower down the order, and bowls at a decent pace as the MP player is likely to be included in RCB’s playing XI for IPL 2026.
RCB IPL 2026 squad without Yash Dayal
Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Jacob Duffy, Satwik Deswal, Jordan Cox, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan, Vicky Ostwal.
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