Royal Challengers Bengaluru have thrown their support behind pacer Yash Dayal, confirming that he will not join the squad at the start of the IPL 2026 season due to a “personal situation”.
Head coach Mo Bobat said the franchise remains in regular contact with the player and continues to support him despite his absence.
“Just to confirm that Yash will not be joining the squad. He is going through a personal situation currently. We’ve been very supportive of him and he remains under contract. We will continue to stay in touch with him,” Bobat told reporters.
According to multiple media reports, Dayal is facing allegations of a sexual nature, including claims of a relationship under false pretences and subsequent exploitation. A complaint has reportedly been filed, and the matter is under legal scrutiny. However, there has been no official verdict, and the allegations remain unproven.
RCB’s decision to back the player amid uncertainty has become a key talking point ahead of the new season.
Bobat added that the team had anticipated such a scenario during the auction. “We went in with a worst-case scenario in mind that he may not be available. So we recruited accordingly and we’re confident in the options we have,” he said.
He also addressed concerns around the bowling attack, particularly with Josh Hazlewood still working his way back to full fitness.
“Josh is currently following a return-to-play programme in Australia. We are liaising closely with him and Cricket Australia, and hope to have him with us soon,” Bobat said.
Dismissing suggestions of a weakened pace unit, he added: “I disagree with that. We’ve got a very strong group of bowlers and we’re not concerned.”
Highlighting domestic options, Bobat said, “Rasikh, Abhinandan and Mangesh have all had excellent preparation and provide strong depth for us.”
He also pointed to a wider trend affecting teams across the league, with player availability impacted by a congested cricket calendar.
“It’s a symptom of the packed schedule. Workload management is a real challenge and not an exact science, especially with players moving across formats,” he noted.
On team selection, Bobat said no final XI has been decided yet. “We haven’t picked the team for the first game. The goal was to build a squad with depth and healthy competition,” he said.
The RCB coach also backed key players, including Phil Salt, to deliver despite recent form concerns. “Phil is one of the top T20 batters in the world. There’s huge confidence in him and I’m sure we’ll see him at his best,” he said.
Looking ahead, Bobat stressed the importance of focusing on the new campaign. “We’re proud of what we achieved last season, but this is a fresh start. We want to begin strongly and focus on what lies ahead,” he added.
RCB will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad, aiming to hit the ground running despite early-season uncertainties.