Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) full squad composition, Probable playing XI and IPL 2025 auction analysis. How did Bengaluru fare at the IPL 2025 Auction? A complete Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad analysis.
IPL 2025 auction saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) making some smart moves, filling up all the vacant spots. It looked like the franchises came up with a definite plan and were able to execute most of them. They have got a good mix of local and overseas players, and not over-reliant on star players like in the previous seasons. They also let go of stars such as Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis and instead bought players who add more utility than just star power. They also had a prized catch in IPL veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who will now spearhead the pace attack.
Here's a look at the complete squad analysis of RCB for IPL 2025.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad composition IPL 2025
Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, and Suyash Sharma.
Batters & Wicket-keepers
RCB have always been top heavy in the previous seasons. But thanks to some smart purchases this time, RCB have got players who can bat at any position and score runs for the team. Getting Phil Salt was a masterstroke as he is a destructive batter at the top. He may open the innings with Virat Kohli followed by Rajat Patidar who produced impactful cameos at one down last season.
It has been a homecoming for Devdutt Padikkal who can not only open but also bat in the middle-order. RCB have spent heavily on Jitesh Sharma after he came into prominence with his big hitting. He is expected to play a major role as a finisher. There are also new buys in Tim David and Liam Livingstone to bat in the middle-lower order. They can give the necessary momentum to the innings or wrap up chases. Overall, the batting unit looks extremely promising.
List of batters & wicket-keepers: Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara
All-rounders
Krunal Pandya is set to lead the spin department with his useful left-arm orthodox bowling, but he is a good hitter of the ball lower down the order as well. Swapnil Singh was a find for RCB last season and is expected to play a major role in the upcoming season. Romario Shepherd plundered 32 runs in an over last season for Mumbai, while his bowling is yet to be fully tapped. He would be the player to watch out for next season. Another promising England all-rounder Jacob Bethell, 21, has been roped in. Overall, RCB would be spoilt for choices among all-rounders in IPL 2025.
List of all-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Mohit Rathee
Bowlers
RCB’s pace bowling unit looks quite a handful with Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) set to spearhead the attack. Aussie bowler Josh Hazlewood adds another dimension to the attack as his disciplined line-and-length bowling would be difficult to get away with. Lungi Ngidi’s thunderbolts would be the icing on the cake. Yash Dayal, the ever-improving pacer, who bowled RCB to play-offs last season, would have a bigger role to play in the upcoming season. Dayal’s left-arm bowling adds depth and variety to the pace-bowling unit.
Spinner Suyash Sharma, who played for KKR last season, would play second fiddle to Krunal but RCB would rely heavily on him to make the maximum use of the conditions. Overall, the bowing unit looks complete in all aspects.
List of bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru probable Playing XI for IPL 2025
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal/Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone/Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya, Tim David/Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood/Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Dar
Conclusion
RCB have covered all their ends up in this auction. They have a good batting line-up with batters capable of big-hitting at all spots. They have few match-winners in overseas players who can bat lower down the order to finish off chases or give a boost to the total. The likes of David, Livingstone, Shepherd, and Jitesh Sharma are capable of big-hitting in the death overs, carrying forward the good work done by the top-order comprising Kohli, Padikkal and Patidar.
In the bowling department, getting an experienced bowler in Bhuvi has been a clever move with dependable Hazlewood as partner. Krunal and Suyash will lead the spin department. Krunal comes with loads of IPL experience, and has been a part of winning campaigns for Mumbai Indians. Overall, RCB have a well-rounded unit with all their bases covered.
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