The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have entered their title defense season under a cloud of controversy. On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat confirmed that left-arm pacer Yash Dayal will not join the squad for the upcoming IPL season.
While the franchise cited a "personal situation," the reality is a harrowing legal situation. Dayal, a hero of RCB’s maiden 2025 title win, is currently facing multiple rape charges, including a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Despite the gravity of the allegations and a rejection of his anticipatory bail, RCB has opted to keep the 29-year-old under his ₹5 crore playing contract, a move that has sparked public backlash.
Since lifting the trophy in June 2025, the Uttar Pradesh seamer has been systematically removed from the competitive circuit by various governing bodies, though RCB remains the notable outlier in maintaining his contract.
Mo Bobat’s confirmation that Dayal remains under contract "in the short term" suggests the franchise is balancing legal caution with a wait-and-see approach. However, the decision to retain him last December, weeks after the POCSO allegations became public, has been widely criticized as a failure of social responsibility.
Yash will not be joining up with the squad... We’ve been very supportive of Yash to date. 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.
Mo Bobat, RCB Director of Cricket
The Jaipur court, led by Judge Alka Bansal, took a far more stringent view, noting that consent has no legal relevance in cases involving minors and that the "heightened caution" required for POCSO cases made anticipatory bail inappropriate.
For the defending champions, Dayal’s absence is a tactical nightmare. He was a cornerstone of their 2025 campaign, taking 13 wickets and providing a rare left-arm variety. His unavailability, coupled with Josh Hazlewood’s delayed arrival due to fitness issues, leaves RCB’s pace attack looking perilously thin ahead of their opener against SunRisers Hyderabad.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The veteran swing king now carries the weight of the new-ball attack.
Jacob Duffy & Nuwan Thushara: Overseas options who will need to adapt quickly to the flat Chinnaswamy deck.
Rasikh Salam & Mangesh Yadav: Uncapped Indian talents who find themselves thrust into the spotlight.
Romario Shepherd: A power-hitting all-rounder who may now be required to bowl his full quota of overs.
Silent ranks: Dayal has not played any competitive cricket for nine months, missing the Ranji Trophy and the UP T20 League.
Power of precedent: The prosecution argued that as a well-known cricketer, Dayal "carries a greater responsibility towards society," a sentiment echoed by fans calling for the termination of his contract.
Auction planning: Mo Bobat admitted that RCB went into the recent auction "planning for a worst-case scenario" regarding Dayal’s availability.
Hazlewood watch: RCB is currently liaising with Cricket Australia to secure a "return to play" timeline for Hazlewood.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru may have won the 2025 title, but they are currently losing the battle for public perception. By keeping a player accused of POCSO offenses under contract, the franchise has prioritized a "supportive" internal culture over external accountability. As the trial in Jaipur proceeds, the focus will remain on whether a "personal situation" justifies the continued association of a premier sports brand with such grave criminal allegations.
