The headlines are impossible to ignore. A Jaipur POCSO court has rejected pre-arrest bail in Yash Dayal’s case, instantly putting his cricketing future under a cloud. Fans are now asking one pressing question: Will Yash Dayal play IPL 2026? With Royal Challengers Bengaluru standing by him for now, the decision has also thrown the spotlight on the 2026 RCB squad and how prepared the franchise really is.
Related Article：IPL Star in Hot Water：Latest on Yash Dayal’s Controversy
Contents
The Background：What Led to the Bail Rejection
At the heart of Yash Dayal’s case is an FIR registered at Jaipur’s Sanganer Sadar police station under the POCSO Act. The minor complainant has alleged that the cricketer sexually exploited her over nearly two-and-a-half years, claiming he lured her with promises of helping her cricket career. Investigators say digital chats, photos, videos, call records, and hotel stay details form crucial evidence. During the hearing, Dayal’s lawyer, Kunal Jaiman, argued that all meetings took place in public, that the girl presented herself as an adult, and that the money exchanged was due to her financial distress. The defence also alleged an extortion attempt and pointed to a related Ghaziabad case as part of a larger conspiracy.
Tainted Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricketer Yash Dayal’s troubles further escalated after a special POCSO court in Jaipur on Tuesday dismissed his application seeking anticipatory bail in a case related to allegedly raping a minor.#DNAUpdates | #YashDayal | #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/auSn7IHLX7
— DNA (@dna) December 24, 2025
However, the court was unconvinced. Judge Alka Bansal observed that the material on record does not suggest false implication and that the investigation indicates possible involvement. Therefore, anticipatory bail was denied, allowing investigators to proceed without restriction. This brings us to the turning point. With the legal process intensifying, the debate has shifted from innocence versus guilt to a more immediate concern: will Yash play IPL 2026 if the case drags on?
IPL 2026 Impact：RCB’s Dilemma and Backup Plans
Where Dayal Fits in the Squad
On paper, Dayal remains part of the RCB 2026 squad. The franchise retained him for ₹5 crore after his key role in their maiden IPL 2025 title win. Alongside senior names like Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Phil Salt, Dayal was expected to add depth to RCB’s pace attack. But reality is less stable. He has not played competitive cricket since the IPL 2025 final and was suspended from domestic tournaments due to the seriousness of the allegations. If arrests or court restrictions follow, availability becomes a real issue.
Possible Replacements if Things Take a Turn
RCB appears to be planning for uncertainty. Among the players bought at auction, pacer Mangesh Yadav stands out as a like-for-like option if Dayal is sidelined. With other bowling resources like Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, and Rasikh Salam already in the 2026 RCB squad, the team has depth—but losing Dayal would still disrupt balance. This is the uncomfortable middle ground. The franchise hasn’t released him, yet it can’t fully rely on him either. And that keeps one question alive: will Yash Dayal play IPL 2026 if legal proceedings escalate at the wrong time?
Yash. Dayal. 🙇♂️ pic.twitter.com/f7yT4TIhZf
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 3, 2025
Conclusion：Waiting on the Courtroom, Not the Pitch
For now, everything is on pause. Yash Dayal’s case is firmly in the legal system, and the court’s refusal to grant anticipatory bail has raised the stakes significantly. As things stand, he remains officially listed in the 2026 RCB squad, but his actual presence on the field depends entirely on what happens next in court. So, will Yash Dayal play IPL 2026? The answer doesn’t lie with selectors or coaches—it rests with the law. Until then, RCB, their fans, and the player himself are all waiting for clarity.
