RCB Confirms Yash Dayal Will Miss IPL 2026 Amid Legal Troubles, Remains Under Contract
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have confirmed that pacer Yash Dayal, who is facing serious legal allegations, will not play for the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, though he remains under contract with the team.
Speaking at a press conference, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat clarified the situation, stating, “Yash will not be joining up with the squad. As you know, he is going through a personal situation currently, and just to clarify, we’ve been very supportive of Yash to date. That support is reflected in the fact that we retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players. He remains under contract, and we continue to communicate with him regularly.”
Bobat added that the decision to keep Dayal out of the squad was “in the best interest of the franchise and the player” at this stage, emphasizing that the franchise will continue to support him as he navigates his ongoing personal and legal matters.
Impact on RCB’s Squad
Dayal, a left-arm pacer, played a crucial role in RCB’s 2025 championship run, claiming 13 wickets during the season. His pace and variation had complemented the bowling attack led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the spin options spearheaded by Krunal Pandya.
With Dayal unavailable, RCB will now rely heavily on the remaining bowlers, including Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Duffy, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, and Romario Shepherd. Since Dayal remains under contract, the franchise cannot bring in a replacement player, forcing them to adapt their bowling strategy for the upcoming season, which kicks off on March 28, 2026.
Yash Dayal’s Legal Battle
Yash Dayal has been involved in two separate criminal cases involving serious sexual assault allegations:
- Ghaziabad Case (July 2025) – A woman accused him of physical and mental exploitation under the pretext of marriage during a five-year relationship. Although the Allahabad High Court granted a stay on his arrest in this matter, the investigation remains active.
- Jaipur POCSO Case – A teenager alleged that Dayal sexually assaulted her multiple times since 2023, including during the 2025 IPL season, promising to help her career. The POCSO court in Jaipur rejected his anticipatory bail plea in December 2025, citing the seriousness of the evidence.
These legal proceedings have effectively sidelined Dayal from competitive cricket, and his future participation in the IPL will depend on the resolution of these cases.
RCB’s Position
RCB’s decision to retain Dayal under contract, despite excluding him from the squad, indicates the franchise is not severing ties, but is prioritizing both legal prudence and team stability. Bobat reiterated that the franchise will continue to support Dayal in his personal matters while planning their strategy around his absence.
As the IPL 2026 season approaches, RCB faces the challenge of maintaining the balance and effectiveness of their bowling attack without one of their key pacers, navigating both competitive and off-field complications.
