 "Uttar Pradesh pacer Yash Dayal was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the next Indian Premier League season despite being banned from competing at the UP T20 League. PTI")
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are facing a massive backlash after including pacer Yash Dayal in their list of retained players for the 2026 Indian Premier League on Saturday. Left-arm pacer Dayal was among the 17 players confirmed to remain part of the RCB squad on the retention deadline that had been set for Saturday, 15 November.
Uttar Pradesh pacer Dayal, who had been acquired by RCB for Rs 5 crore during the mini auction in Dubai two years ago, faces criminal charges in two separate cases.
In one case that has been filed in UP’s Ghaziabad in July under section 69 of Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS), the 27-year-old has been accused by his long-term partner of sexually and financially exploiting her under the pretext of marriage.
And in the other case filed in Jaipur under sections from the POCSO Act as well as the BNS , Dayal is accused of raping a minor for two years under the pretext of helping her in her cricket career.
The allegations have led to Dayal being banned from the UP T20 League. RCB, however, did not take any such step against the pacer and decided to include him in their retention list along with batting superstar Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar and 14 others.
Here are some of the reactions to RCB’s decision to retain Dayal:
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View AllRCB had opted to retain a majority of players from the squad that had delivered the franchise its maiden IPL title in 17 years. England all-rounder Liam Livingstone – who had been acquired for Rs 8.75 crore in last year’s mega auction in Jeddah – was the biggest name released from the squad on Saturday.
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi, New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert and senior India batter Mayank Agarwal were some of the other key players released from the Royal Challengers squad.