Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), winners of the IPL 2025 and 2026 tournaments, will be looking to defend their title and become the first franchise to win the Indian Premier League title three years in a row. The Rajat Patidar-led side finally got the balance right in their combination in the last two IPL editions, and it resulted in two IPL titles back-to-back.
Ahead of the IPL 2027 edition, we will take a look at five players who can help RCB defend their two IPL titles. These players will contribute with the bat and/or the ball for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming IPL 2027.
Here are the 5 players who could help Royal Challengers Bengaluru defend their title in IPL 2027:
- Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya was the Player of the Final in RCB’s maiden IPL title win in 2025, as he contributed with the ball and the bat equally. He has made 109 and 226 runs with the bat and 31 wickets in the last two IPL seasons. He has brought huge balance to the RCB side and keeps runs low in middle overs for RCB. His performance will be crucial for the RCB team given that he also brings experience to the leadership group and assists youngsters in the team.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will have to lead the RCB bowling attack, as Josh Hazlewood might not be available for the entire IPL 2027, given Australia’s prep for the Ashes and ICC World Cup next year. Bhuvneshwar Kumar shined with 45 wickets in RCB’s two IPL wins in the 2025 and 2026 tournaments. His outings also helped him return to the Indian T20I team as well after four years. He and Hazlewood ensured both new ball and death overs were difficult for the opposition batters to score for, and with the possibility of the Aussie bowler not playing in IPL 2027, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will have to shoulder more responsibility.
- Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal has relished his role in the middle order for RCB in the last two seasons, scoring 247 runs and 464 runs with five fifties to his name. But the difference was his strike rate at 150 and 168.68 in IPL 2025 and 2026. Padikkal has found a new gear in his batting, hitting from the get-go without taking unnecessary risks. Padikkal will be crucial in case the top order fails in a game or two to keep RCB’s score going forward and give something to the RCB bowlers to defend.
- Rajat Patidar
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar has turned the fortunes of the franchise for good. A team that had to wait 18 years to win their first IPL title, Patidar not only ended their drought but also made them two-time IPL champions by repeating the feat next year. Patidar not only captained well but also contributed with the bat as well. He scored 312 runs at a strike rate of 143.77 in the IPL 2025 win and then did better in the IPL 2026 win, with 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69 with five fifties. Patidar will be crucial to RCB’s dual title defence in IPL 2027, both as a captain and as a batter, as he has finished the games well.
- Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has continued to breathe RCB from the 2008 IPL till now and will continue to do so till he plays the Indian Premier League. Virat Kohli scored 657 runs with 8 fifties at a strike rate of 144.71, as he realised his dream of winning an IPL trophy with RCB in 2025. He continued the good form and, in fact, improved it in IPL 2026, scoring 675 runs with one century and 5 fifties and a strike rate of 165.84. Kohli remains the central figure in RCB’s batting order in the coming IPL 2027, and his form will be necessary for RCB to defend their two IPL titles.
