This article will discuss how Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fared in the 2025 Indian Premier League auction.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a heavyweight team in the Indian Premier League, promised to be among the top three or four teams in the tournament but has unfortunately not delivered on that promise over the year.
RCB has one of the most loyal fanbases among the 10 teams in the league, and Virat Kohli is their ‘numero uno’ player.
Unfortunately, they have failed to deliver on the big stage and have faltered midway through the tournament invariably disappointing their fan base. Will the three-time runners-up turn the tables this year?
RCB auction strategy
RCB looked like a determined team for the 2025 season by holding on to only 3 Indian player in the retention window.
Only Virat Kohli (Rs 21 crore), Rajat Patidar (Rs 11 crore), and Yash Dayal (Rs 5 crore) have been retained
This suggested that the ‘think tank’ was going all-out to press the reset button
With Duplessis not retained also meant RCB too will be going to the auction table for a captain.
The Auction
RCB has been guilty on two counts in the past: One, they went for glamour players, and two, they relied heavily on foreign players.
This time around they did not show interest in marquee players, instead went for some T20 specialists.
Josh Hazlewood, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar made up the core experienced buys and in addition pulled in youngsters like Rasikh Dhar, Suyash Sharma making a strong Indian contingent, a change from their past strategies.
Hits
- RCB focussed on high impact overseas player who has delivered in the shortest format
- Strong Indian contingent (Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya)
- Salt and Livingstone give the much-needed firepower that was missing in the past few additions.
- RCB has been criticised in the past for not having a steady bowling attack. With Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, opening bowling looks decent.
Misses
- RCB had the second biggest purse and they had the option of aggressively going for some key Indian and International players which could have made their team stronger.
- Lack of death bowling option will hurt them in the small Chinnaswamy Stadium.
- They missed on a captain potential buy.
RCB full squad for IPL 2025
Virat Kohli, Liam Livingstone, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.
RCB – Probable XI for IPL 2025:
Probable playing eleven
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Rajat Patidar
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma
- Krunal Pandya
- Tim David
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Suyash Sharma
- Yash Dayal
- Rasikh Dar
Super Sports View and IPL Predictions
RCB missed a trick during the auction by not planning their buys a bit more tactfully. They let go Faf Duplessis which was mind-boggling considering the equation he shared with Virat. This has potentially weakened their batting. With no potential captain bought, Virat may have to again dawn the captain’s hat for the season.
While the team has a good mix of experienced and young players in the squad, it is not a squad that will put fear in the minds of the opposition. Also, a closer look on the squad can show lots of weakness with not all bases covered.
RCB did not use the RTM cards for Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, or Will Jacks.
Tim David and Jacob Bethell, Nuwan Thushara and Romario Shepherd were great buys.
The team we believe is a batting-heavy side and quick wickets at the top can make the team vulnerable. Also, the team does not have the bowling power to defend totals, especially in the Chinnaswamy stadium.
Death-bowling will be of great concern.
With Krunal and Suyash Sharma as their main spinners, the spin department lacks the punch which other teams have.
Prediction for IPL 2025
With obvious flaws in their squad , it is highly unlikely that the 3 time runnersup will make it to the top 4 and in the playoffs.
We give the auction and the squad a 6/10
Also, read our other IPL Auction review articles so far
Leave A Comment