Richard Gleeson, a right-arm England pacer who represented Islamabad United in PSL 11, has been signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming IPL 2026 remainder.
Islamabad United's Richard Gleeson, a right-arm England pacer, showcased his prowess during the PSL 11 Qualifier against Peshawar Zalmi at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on April 28. The 38-year-old player was acquired by RCB for INR 1.6 crore following his impressive performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, where he picked up 12 wickets with an average of 18.83 and an economy rate of 7.13.
Gleeson's strong showing at PSL 11 caught the attention of RCB, who signed him as a replacement for Sri Lanka's Nuwan Thushara. Thushara was initially included in the RCB squad but could not join due to issues with obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The SLC denied Thushara's request on grounds of fitness standards, leading to his absence.
Thushara had previously been part of RCB's victorious team in the inaugural IPL title in 2025. However, he was retained for the ongoing edition but faced difficulties obtaining the NOC from the SLC. In response, Thushara filed a lawsuit against the SLC but withdrew it after issuing a written apology.
Richard Gleeson will now join RCB for their upcoming IPL 2026 remainder. This marks his third stint in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL), having previously played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians in the 2024 and 2025 editions, respectively.
Despite playing just three matches across two editions with CSK and MI, Gleeson managed to take only two wickets at an average of 55. His addition to RCB's squad is expected to bolster their bowling attack ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
