Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, Dinesh Karthik revealed his all-time XI for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a selection that sparked plenty of discussion among fans. The former RCB wicketkeeper, who now serves as the franchise’s batting coach, opted for a team that surprisingly leaned toward several current players rather than only past legends of the Bengaluru-based side.
Karthik’s lineup appears to reflect the impact of RCB’s historic title-winning campaign in 2025, rewarding players who played a key role in delivering the franchise’s long-awaited first IPL trophy. For the opening slots, Karthik went with two of the most explosive batters in RCB history — Chris Gayle and Faf du Plessis. Both players rank among the franchise’s highest run-scorers and have been instrumental in shaping RCB’s aggressive batting identity over the years.
Interestingly, Karthik pushed RCB’s most iconic player, Virat Kohli, down to the No. 3 position. The middle order is further strengthened by another franchise legend, AB de Villiers, whose match-winning ability made him the backbone of the Bengaluru lineup during his playing days.
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One of the biggest surprises in Karthik’s selection was naming Rajat Patidar not only in the playing XI but also as the captain of the all-time team. Despite Kohli’s long tenure as captain of the franchise, Karthik backed Patidar for the role, praising his impact in a relatively short period.
“He’s the most successful captain, let’s start there, but as a batter the impact he’s given in the short time that he’s played for RCB has been phenomenal,” Dinesh Karthik said while explaining his choice.
The lower middle order features Jitesh Sharma at No. 6, selected for his leadership qualities and aggressive batting style. All-rounder Krunal Pandya also finds a place in the XI after his crucial contributions during RCB’s title-winning season.
“If RCB has the trophy today, you have to say it is largely due to how well he bowled in that final,” Dinesh Karthik said while praising Pandya’s match-winning performance.
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The bowling attack in Karthik’s all-time XI includes Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, both of whom boast outstanding wicket-taking records for the franchise. Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood was selected following his strong IPL 2025 campaign, while Mohammed Siraj edged out former RCB bowlers such as Vinay Kumar and S Aravind due to his impressive wicket tally for the franchise.
Dinesh Karthik’s all-time RCB 11: Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), AB de Villiers, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal Pandya, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Josh Hazlewood.
