Ignored by RCB, Star Batter Unleashes 195-Run Carnage Ahead of IPL 2026

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Swastik Chikara made headlines with his brutal batting in the Ayodhya Premier League on Sunday, March 22. In a game against Hindon Titans, the right-hander proved why he is rated highly in the Indian domestic circuit.

Swastik Chikara, playing for Gomti Thunder, opened the innings and made sure that he made the best of the opportunity. The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter, who is one of the best batsmen in India, went after the bowlers right from the start as he looked in a lethal mood, which saw him destroy bowlers.

Swastik Chikara Scores 195 in Ayodhya Premier League 2026

Chikara played a magical knock of 195 not out off 69 balls. He slammed 126 from sixes alone, which in itself says the kind of innings he played. He narrowly missed hitting a double century but his innings was laced with 21 sixes and 11 fours.
He was well supported by Priyanshu Pandey, who slammed an unbeaten 100 in 54 balls to go with 12 fours and five sixes. Thanks to Swastik Chikara 195 run knock, Gomti Thunder posted 307 runs on the board and ended the opposition’s innings on 218.

Swastik Chikara gained a lot of limelight after his heroics in the Ayodhya Premier League 2026. He was also a part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) title-winning squad that won the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Chikara caught the eye of the RCB management after his performances in the 2024 Uttar Pradesh T20 League, where he was the highest run-getter with 499 runs, and eventually, he was picked in the IPL 2025 auction.

However, despite being talented and having runs under his belt, he didn’t get an opportunity to play a single game for RCB, the richest team in IPL. The reason behind that was the decision of management to trust the senior and experienced batters in the side.

RCB preferred Devdutt Padikkal over Chikara at three. And even when the former got injured and was ruled out, the team gave the nod ahead to Mayank Agarwal, who came in as a replacement and was far more experienced.

What is Swastik Chikara IPL 2026 Team?

Despite not getting a single chance, Swastik Chikara was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru management ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. It was expected that he would find some bidders, but that wasn’t the case as he went unsold.

After his 195 off 69 Balls, Chikara surely would have come under the scanner of many franchises, who are looking for replacements for several injured players. It remains to be seen if he gets an opportunity or not.