Analysing the RCB squad for WPL 2026 including the absence of Ellyse Perry, the fitness of Pooja Vastrakar and Shreyanka Patil and the likely RCB playing XI.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the Women’s Premier League 2026 (WPL 2026) with unfinished business. Champions in 2024, RCB followed it up with a disappointing 2025 campaign where they finished fourth and failed to qualify for the playoffs. The upcoming season represents a reset — but one complicated by the absence of their most important player of the last three years.
Ellyse Perry will not feature in WPL 2026, having pulled out for personal reasons despite being retained. Her exit leaves a massive hole, both in balance and leadership, that RCB must now solve through structure rather than star power.
This RCB WPL 2026 squad analysis looks at how Royal Challengers Bengaluru are likely to line up, where they are strong, and where the cracks could appear.
Where RCB Finished Last Season
RCB finished fourth in WPL 2025, winning only three of their eight matches. The season began promisingly with wins over Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals, but five consecutive losses soon derailed their campaign. Smriti Mandhana endured a difficult year as captain, and RCB struggled for consistency once the middle order failed to fire.
What’s New in RCB Squad For WPL 2026
The biggest change is obvious. Why Ellyse Perry won’t play WPL 2026 for RCB was known to the management ahead of the auction and they had planned for it.
Ellyse Perry, RCB’s highest run-scorer and fourth-highest wicket-taker in WPL history, is unavailable. Her absence removes a rare cricketer who could anchor an innings, finish games, bowl crucial overs, and offer on-field leadership.
RCB replaced Perry with fast-bowling allrounder Sayali Satghare but chose not to pursue a like-for-like overseas replacement. Instead, head coach Malolan Rangarajan made it clear that the auction strategy was to “pick the best bowling unit available”.
That thinking explains the makeup of the squad. RCB are packed with allrounders and bowlers who can contribute across phases. Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Arundhati Reddy, Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav all offer dual skills, while Lauren Bell adds height and bounce with the new ball.
On the batting front, RCB added Australia opener Georgia Voll and domestic top-order batter Gautami Naik in the WPL 2026 auction, while also reshaping the backroom staff. Rangarajan takes over as head coach, with Anya Shrubsole appointed bowling coach.
RCB Playing XI for WPL 2026 (Likely)
- Smriti Mandhana
- Georgia Voll
- Grace Harris
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Nadine de Klerk
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Shreyanka Patil
- Prema Rawat
- Arundhati Reddy
- Lauren Bell
RCB WPL 2026 Overseas players: Georgia Voll, Grace Harris, Nadine de Klerk, Lauren Bell
RCB Squad for WPL 2026: SWOT Analysis
Strengths of the RCB Squad
RCB’s biggest strength remains their batting firepower at both ends of the innings.
Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll give RCB aggressive openers capable of exploiting the powerplay. Voll is a clean striker who prefers pace on the ball and can maintain tempo without taking excessive risk. RCB also have other options to open the batting with Smriti Mandhana. It is a critical question they need to answer before the start of the tournament: Who Will Open With Smriti Mandhana for RCB in WPL 2026?
At the back end, few teams can match the finishing potential of Richa Ghosh, Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk. Harris, in particular, gives RCB a high-impact hitter who can change games in short bursts, while de Klerk’s consistency and power make her a reliable option in the final overs.
RCB also arguably possess one of the strongest bowling units in the tournament. Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy provide three distinct new-ball options, while de Klerk can control the middle overs. In spin, RCB have Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav and Prema Rawat, with Harris capable of chipping in if needed.
Fielding was another focus at the auction, and RCB are visibly sharper across the ring compared to previous seasons.
Weaknesses That Could Hurt RCB in WPL 2026
Despite the depth on paper, several issues remain unresolved.
The most obvious weakness is the shortage of proven Indian batters behind Mandhana. Dayalan Hemalatha has struggled to convert opportunities at the WPL level, while Gautami Naik, although impressive domestically, remains untested in high-pressure league cricket.
Bowling depth is another concern once the first-choice options are exhausted. If injuries strike — particularly to Vastrakar or Shreyanka Patil — RCB’s bench strength looks thin in terms of proven match-winners.
Fitness is a real question mark. Vastrakar has not played competitive cricket since October 2024 due to multiple injuries, while Shreyanka Patil is also just returning from a long layoff. RCB are banking heavily on both being available and effective immediately.
And then there is Perry’s absence. No single player in the squad offers her combination of stability, flexibility and leadership.
RCB Overseas Players List 2026
Georgia Voll
Grace Harris
Nadine de Klerk
Lauren Bell
Linsey Smith
RCB Fixtures WPL 2026 Season
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Jan 9 | Mumbai Indians |
| Jan 12 | UP Warriorz |
| Jan 16 | Gujarat Giants |
| Jan 17 | Delhi Capitals |
| Jan 19 | Gujarat Giants |
| Jan 24 | Delhi Capitals |
| Jan 26 | Mumbai Indians |
| Jan 29 | UP Warriorz |
Facing Mumbai Indians twice and Delhi Capitals twice in the league phase will quickly reveal whether RCB have solved their balance issues.
Final Verdict
RCB enter WPL 2026 with a strong squad but an unresolved identity. The bowling unit looks capable of winning matches, and the finishing power is undeniable. However, the lack of a Perry-like stabiliser, fitness concerns, and limited Indian batting depth mean margins will be thin.
Whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru can rediscover their 2024 touch depends less on individual brilliance and more on how well they solve the structural problems Perry’s absence has created.
