Not Virat Kohli! These 3 players could power RCB to IPL 2026 glory
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Virat Kohli, the RCB legend, has amassed the most runs for the franchise and has been their leading run scorer in most of their recent seasons. However, here are three players who might produce something special to help RCB defend their title.
The Indian legend, Virat Kohli, was the most standout performer for RCB in the previous edition of the IPL as well. He amassed 650+ runs and was the third-highest run-getter for RCB. However, this time around, some other players might help RCB to prosper in their campaign.
3 Players other than Virat Kohli who can power RCB to another IPL title
3. Phil Salt
English batter Phil Salt emerged as one of the most talented openers in the shortest format of the game. Having amassed several runs on the international front, he is considered one of the most aggressive and consistent openers at the top of the order.
Phil Salt has played three times in the IPL and has represented three different franchises since 2023. He represented the Delhi Capitals in his first season of 2023, where he amassed 218 runs in 9 appearances. The Kolkata Knight Riders bought him in the next mini-auction and got the best possible advantage in 2024.
Having produced 435 runs across 12 innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Salt showed his calibre to carry a team single-handedly; however, he then moved to RCB the following season. Starring for RCB, he amassed another 403 runs at a whopping strike rate of 175.
Though Salt has been severely out of touch in 2025, and his batting form has dipped internationally, he remains one of the best batters in the RCB unit, who has the calibre to lead a team to victory.
2. Devdutt Padikkal
It was this Royal Challengers Bengaluru side that first brought Devdutt Padikkal's talent to the forefront. The Karnataka batter first played for the Challengers in 2020 and was picked as the IPL Emerging Player of the season.
Playing his first two seasons for the Royal Challengers, the youngster had amassed 400+ runs in consecutive seasons. He also scored a century in just the second season after his debut. However, his career was blown up after he moved to the Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants.
He returned to the RCB den in 2025 after the mega-auction. Padikkal played 10 of their matches as RCB's no. 3 batter and amassed 247 runs with two half-centuries and flaunted a fearless ball-striking ability with a strike rate of 150.
Padikkal has been in stunning form domestically, as he has been dominating the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Karnataka and then scored runs in the second half of the Ranji Trophy as well. He also amassed a double century in the semi-final contest against Uttarakhand.
1. Jacob Bethell
The best possible batter who can step up as RCB's best batter on show. Jacob Bethell, the youngster from England, stood out as their best man in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Bethell had shown good form during the Ashes stint in Australia as well.
The English left-hander held up the English middle order together; he would not be handed the crucial role to do the same for RCB. Tim David has not been in the greatest of touch ever since his return from injury; hence, it gets further important for Bethell to step up.
The English batter is particularly strong on the back foot and handles spin bowling very well, which gives him the upper hand on subcontinent tracks. Bethell, though, is relatively inexperienced in the IPL, having played just 2 games and scored 67 runs with a half-century.
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