RCB vs CSK: Who owns the stronger retained core?

• RCB: Kohli & Salt lead strong batting; David & Shepherd bolster finishing; Most balanced.
• SRH: Explosive top order but lacks proven finishers; Relies heavily on the top four.
• CSK: Inexperienced; Samson adds quality; Dhoni's age raises finishing concerns.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction just three days away, most franchises have already laid a strong foundation for the upcoming season through

player retention and pre-auction trades. While the auction will allow teams to address remaining gaps, several squads already look well settled, particularly in the batting department. Among them, the three southern derby teams, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), stand out for comparison. An analysis of their batting line-ups reveals clear differences in balance, experience, and finishing strength. Here, let us take a look at their batting lineup.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru

When it comes to overall batting strength, RCB appear to stand taller than the other two franchises. Their top order is led by the explosive duo of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, whose chemistry worked exceptionally well in the previous season. Salt’s aggressive approach complements Kohli’s composure, making them one of the most dangerous opening pairs in the league. Adding further depth is Jacob Bethell, who can also open the innings and impressed with his performances in IPL 2025.

RCB’s middle order is equally solid, featuring Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma. These players are capable of absorbing pressure and accelerating once set. What truly sets RCB apart, however, is their finishing department. Tim David and Romario Shepherd form a powerful finishing duo, both known for their ability to clear boundaries with ease in the death overs. Their impact in previous editions makes RCB’s batting unit the most balanced among the three teams.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH boast one of the most explosive top orders in the league. Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan provide aggressive starts and maintain a high scoring rate during the powerplay. Their intent-driven approach puts bowlers under immediate pressure. The middle order includes Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Aniket Verma, who are capable of stabilising the innings during the crucial middle overs.

However, SRH’s biggest weakness lies in the lack of proven finishers. Ravichandran Smaran is one of the few options available, but he is not a specialist death-overs batter. This forces SRH to depend heavily on their top four batters, making their batting line-up slightly one-dimensional.

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Chennai Super Kings

The five-time champions CSK, surprisingly, have a relatively inexperienced batting unit when compared to RCB and SRH. The recent trade for Sanju Samson adds quality at the top, where he is expected to open alongside the young Ayush Mhatre, who has limited match experience at the IPL level. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad bats at No.3, followed by Urvil Patel at No.4, providing stability in the top order.

The middle order consists of Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube, both capable of dominating spin bowling in the middle overs. However, finishing remains a concern. MS Dhoni continues to be a presence at the end, but given his current role and age, CSK cannot rely heavily on him to finish matches consistently. Overall, CSK’s batting has quality but lacks the firepower and experience seen in the other two sides.

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Conclusion

Among the three southern derby teams, RCB clearly possess the strongest and most complete batting line-up, ticking all the necessary boxes. SRH rank second due to their explosive top order but are weakened by the absence of finishers. CSK, while rich in legacy, currently appear the most inexperienced and less balanced of the three in terms of batting depth.