Aakash Chopra picks RCB playing 11 ahead of IPL 2026 Auction, identifies key issue for reigning champions to address

Former India batter Aakash Chopra picked his probable playing 11 for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. He also identified a key issue that the defending champions have to address at the auction.

He reckoned that they had almost all their bases covered and did not need to change a lot, having won the previous season. Chopra felt that they might look for a backup for Liam Livingstone, who they released. However, he highlighted that the key issue for RCB would Australia pacer Josh Hazelwood's fitness.

Notably, Hazlewood has been ruled out of the upcoming opening 2025/26 Ashes Test. With the T20 World Cup to follow after the Ashes and before IPL 2026, he expressed concern regarding the pacers' fitness. Therefore, he felt that they might look at a backup option for him at the auction.

"Why do you change anything? This team has won so all bases are almost covered. Maybe they need a backup somewhere, maybe for Livingstone. Hazlewood's fitness could be an issue. He is going to miss the first Ashes Test. There is Ashes, World Cup, and then the IPL so it is a tough one. Maybe a replacement or backup for him. Maybe Jacob Bethell gets a bigger role in the absence of Livingstone. It is a good team. They need nobody, they're good," he said on Star Sports.

RCB retained the majority of their core from the last season. Chopra picked Virat Kohli and Phil Salt as the openers. He picked Devdutt Padikkal at three, followed by skipper Rajat Patidar at four, Krunal Pandya at five, Jitesh Sharma at six, Tim David at seven, and Romario Shepherd at eight. Coming to the bowlers, he went with the pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal. He picked spinner Suyash Sharma as the impact player.

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RCB beat PBKS in the IPL 2025 final to clinch their maiden trophy

RCB created history by beating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final last season. They won by six runs to lift their maiden IPL trophy, putting an end to a 17-year wait.

Batting first, they put up a challenging total of 190/9 in the final. They then restricted PBKS to 184/7 to win the game by six runs in the end. Rajat Patidar and his troops were consistent throughout the season.

They finished second in the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches. Heading into the 2026 auction, they will want to fine-tune their side and prepare to defend their title. They will enter the auction with a purse of ₹16.40 crore with slots, including two overseas slots, remaining.