RCB Confirm Rape-Accused Yash Dayal Will Not Play IPL 2026, But Still Under Contract Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have confirmed that left-arm pacer Yash Dayal will not be part of the squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, despite remaining under contract with the franchise. The decision came after Dayal’s absence from team training sessions ahead of the new campaign sparked speculation about his exclusion. RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat clarified that Dayal’s non-participation is due to a "personal situation" and ongoing legal proceedings tied to multiple sexual assault cases. Bobat addressed reporters on Tuesday, stating, "Yash will not be joining up with the squad. He is going through a personal situation currently, and we’ve been very supportive of him. We retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players." The director emphasized that Dayal remains under contract and that the franchise continues to communicate with him. "It has been decided that it is not in his best interest or the franchise’s best interest for him to join up with us at this point," Bobat added. Dayal, who played a key role in RCB’s 2025 championship run by taking 13 wickets across the season, has been sidelined since last year’s final. His absence is linked to legal proceedings that have prevented him from returning to competitive cricket. The franchise’s decision to retain him under contract suggests they are not severing ties, though his future availability will depend on the resolution of his personal and legal matters. For RCB, the loss of Dayal is a significant setback. His left-arm pace added variety to the attack, complementing the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the spin options led by Krunal Pandya.#ipl_2026 #rcb #yash_dayal #mo_bobat #indirapuram_police_station
