Out of the blue, Yash Dayal stepped away from IPL 2026, saying private matters were at play. Following the last ball bowled in 2025, he vanished from matches – legal troubles weighing heavy, like charges tied to sexual misconduct and an active case under POCSO laws. Still, RCB held on tight, keeping him locked in for next year’s lineup. In the end, though, he walked off the list himself; even then, the team refused to let go
Last week, Mo Bobat stood by Dayal again, speaking openly about trust. Though plans had shifted, the team already braced for tough outcomes before bidding began. Names like Rasikh Salam Dar came up – someone who might fill space when needed. Abhinandan Singh also entered conversation, along with Mangesh Yadav, both seen as steady choices if roles change fast. Preparation leaned on quiet readiness, not bold claims.
Things with Yash Dayal haven’t been straightforward – they’ve dragged on long enough to make planning tough. Guessing his status feels like aiming at a moving target. Our auction strategy assumed the toughest outcome: him being out of reach. Because of that, choices were made ahead of time. Strong local pace options are already part of the group, Bobat mentioned.
Rasikh, familiar to most of you, saw Abhinandan already on board from the previous season. Following that, Mangesh joined through the recent draft. At home level, these three bring strong possibilities into view. Losing someone such as Yash hits hard without question. He mattered greatly over recent seasons, no surprise there. Firm in our choices within the group, though – team picks will follow that lead,” he said. Yet confidence shapes how names get chosen.
Bobat Updates on Hazlewood
Finding out when Josh Hazlewood might arrive? That detail still isn’t clear, Bobat said. Close contact between RCB and Cricket Australia continues – just to pin down a timeline. Yet, at this point, there is no solid answer on his status.
“We are liaising very closely with both Josh and Cricket Australia. And our medical teams are collaborating very strongly on a day-to-day basis on this programme. We’ll continue to communicate with him. And as soon as he gets to a point where Cricket Australia are happy, he’ll come over. And we hope to have him with us very soon,” Bobat said.
