IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal, who is an accused in an alleged rape case, will not be available for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, the franchise's Director of Cricket, Mo Babat, confirmed the news in a press conference.
Mo Bobat said that the pacer will not play in IPL 2026 due to personal issues, despite being under contract with RCB, citing the decision was taken in Dayal's ‘best interest.’
"Yash Dayal will not be a part of RCB this season. He's going through a personal situation. He remains under contract. It was decided in his best interest," Babat said in a press conference.
Meanwhile, in the photo of the RCB squad on the team bus, Dayal was nowhere to be seen in recent photos circulating on social media.
RCB team bus looks amazing for IPL 2026.
— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) March 21, 2026
RCB has removed Yash Dayal from the poster and has also sidelined him. pic.twitter.com/0lhYDja81E
Right ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, RCB had to face severe backlash as they retained Dayal for Rs 5 crore amidst the serious ongoing legal case against him.
Yash Dayal has been embroiled in a serious controversy following multiple allegations of sexual assault and exploitation. A woman from Gaziabad filed an FIR against Dayal for sexual exploitation on the pretext of marriage.
Later, the matter for Dayal took a turn for the worse as a complaint was registered in Jaipur against him, where the allegations fall under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), where a complainant is alleged to have been a minor at the time of the incident.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026: KKR's Injury Woes Deepen As Akash Deep Ruled Out, Saurabh Dubey Named Replacement
Dayal denied all allegations against him.
On December 24, 2025, Dayal got his anticipatory bail rejected by the Jaipur POCSO court.
Yash Dayal Got Married
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, Yash Dayal tied the knot to his longtime partner, Shweta Pundir, on February 4 in Noida in a low-key affair, with just close family attending.