The reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are facing a variety of injury issues before the start of the IPL 2026 season. The cricketing circles are full of action and players are getting hurt which is bad news since the new season is going to start at the end of March.
On the other hand, RCB has one of the best and most stable squads for IPL 2026, but the team will be wishing that the players get complete recovery and fitness.
Main RCB Players with Injuries before IPL 2026
Phil Salt
Phil Salt, the RCB opener, was unable to play in the ILT20 Qualifier 2 due to a back injury. He appeared to be in great pain a day before the match and the news of his absence has added to the list of injuries that RCB is dealing with before IPL 2026. Salt finished the year 2025 with 1575 runs in 52 innings scoring at an average of 32.81 and a strike rate of 153.35, including 11 fifties and one hundred.
He is likely to heal fast as he has been included in England’s T20 World Cup 2026 provisional squad. If he is fit to play in the tournament, he should be available for IPL too as the World Cup will take place before IPL season.
Rajat Patidar
The captain of RCB, Rajat Patidar, had a minor discomfort in his left knee that sidelined him for a brief period. He was back in action for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and he got the nod from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. However, he is not part of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy possibly due to fitness although Madhya Pradesh has not revealed the reason.
Through a mix of wonderful performances, Patidar became a very vital player for his team and scored 312 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2025. RCB would like to see him fully fit and available throughout the IPL 2026 season.
Josh Hazlewood
The physical condition of Josh Hazlewood is still a big issue. The Australian pacer sustained an injury to his hamstring while playing in the month of November 2025 in a Sheffield Shield match which later got aggravated by an Achilles tendon problem during his recovery. These problems made him miss the entire 2025-26 Ashes and direct his attention to the T20 World Cup 2026 instead. Though included in the squad for the tournament, his complete fitness is still a matter of doubt.
Hazlewood’s participation was very important for RCB in IPL 2025 and he took 22 wickets in 12 matches. He was the highest wicket-taker for the team and the third overall in the tournament.
Tim David
Australian batsman Tim David is in a race against the clock to recover in time for the T20 World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury in the game against Hobart Hurricanes. David hurt his hamstring while running and was advised by the medical staff to retire. This is the second time he has had a hamstring injury within a year. The previous injury was during IPL 2025, a significant strain that eventually led to his absence from the playoffs. He has been picked for T20 World Cup 2026 but his fitness is still a major concern.
In IPL 2025, David was a genius for RCB, making a total of 187 runs from the lower order in six innings with an average of 62.33 and a strike rate of 185.14. He also hit 1,231 runs in 46 T20 innings at an average of 39.70 and a strike rate of 172.89 during 2025. Thus, he will be a key player for them next season, and the team will be expecting a quick recovery from him.