just a few days ago ipl 2026 In the ongoing match, the defending champion Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has suffered a big setback. his left arm fast bowler Yash Dayal Will not be a part of the team this season, a development that has raised many questions among fans.
Putting an end to all the speculations, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobt confirmed the news during the press conference ahead of the tournament. While Dayal is contracted with the franchise, he will not be available for the upcoming campaign due to personal reasons.
Official confirmation about Yash Dayal from RCB camp
Addressing the situation, Bobcat made it clear that the franchise stands completely behind Dayal and will continue to support him. However, both sides have agreed that withdrawing from the tournament is the right decision at this time.
“Yash will not be joining the team, as you know, he is going through a personal situation at the moment,” Bobat said. “To be clear, we have been very supportive of Yash to date, and that is reflected in the fact that whenever we have had the opportunity to retain him, we have retained him. And he remains under contract.”
he adds, “We are in regular communication with him, and I spoke to him earlier today as well. But it has been decided that his joining the team at this time is not in the best interests of him or the franchise.”
Bobat also revealed that RCB had already prepared for such a scenario while planning their team. “We planned our auction for the worst-case scenario,” He said.
Dayal’s absence is a big blow to the team, especially considering his contribution to the IPL 2025 title-winning campaign. The left-arm fast bowler picked up 13 wickets and brought balance to the bowling unit with his ability to swing the ball and take the ball at difficult moments.
While the franchise has decided not to go into details, describing it as a “personal situation”, the background includes the serious legal challenges facing Dayal. Reports suggest that he is currently dealing with multiple cases, including one related to allegations of exploitation on the pretext of marriage in Ghaziabad.
Another case registered in Jaipur under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act is even more serious, involving the allegations of a minor. In December 2025, a special POCSO court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, citing the seriousness of the case and the ongoing investigation.
These developments have already sidelined him from competitive cricket for some time. He missed the UP T20 League and has not played in any match since the IPL 2025 final. There have also been reports that state officials struggled to reach him for selection discussions.
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Impact on RCB’s bowling plans
For RCB, this situation impacts their bowling plans. The absence of Dayal has left the fast bowling attack depleted, especially with Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood also expected to miss the early part of the tournament due to injury concerns.
The team will now rely heavily on young Indian fast bowlers like Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh and Mangesh Yadav as well as experienced names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Their overseas options include Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara and all-rounder Romario Shepherd.
The challenge is that RCB cannot bring in a replacement for Dayal as he is still officially under contract. This limits their flexibility and increases the pressure on the available bowlers to deliver.
As the team prepares to begin its title defense on March 28 Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) All eyes will be on how they handle this unexpected blow at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Although the team still has depth, losing a proven performer like Dayal right before the season is far from ideal.
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