Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had retained only 3 players before the start of the auction. They were Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal. Bengaluru has spent 47 crores on retentions and entered the auction with a purse of 73 crores. RCB bought 19 players in the auction.
The RCB team made some confusing decisions like they did not use the Right To Match for Mohammad Siraj and Will Jacks. They have bought explosive hitters such as Phil Salt, Tim David, Liam Livingstone and Romario Shepherd.
RCB have bolstered their fast bowling attack with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi. The spin bowling department needs work. They have no captain as of now but it looks like it will be Virat Kohli.
In this article, we will go through the Royal Challengers Bengaluru auction strategy, full squad and possible playing XI with which they can start the tournament.
Key Takeaways from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL 2025 Auction
1. Retained Core Players:
RCB retained only three players—Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal—before the auction, signaling a significant overhaul in their strategy for IPL 2025.
2. Aggressive Auction Strategy:
The team focused on acquiring explosive hitters like Phil Salt, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, and Romario Shepherd, aiming to bolster their batting firepower.
3. Strengthened Fast Bowling:
RCB made notable additions to their fast bowling lineup with seasoned campaigners such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Lungi Ngidi.
4. Neglected Spin Department:
The spin bowling unit appears underwhelming, with limited depth and experience, which could pose challenges in spin-friendly conditions.
5. Leadership Uncertainty:
While no captain has been officially announced, Virat Kohli is the most likely candidate to lead the side.
Notable Buys for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Auction
Phil Salt (₹11.50 Crores)
Josh Hazlewood (₹12.50 Crores)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 Crores)
Tim David (₹3 Crores)
Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 Crores)
Lungi Ngidi (₹1 Crore)
Krunal Pandya (₹5.75 Crores)
Rasikh Salam (₹6 Crores)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Squad 2025 Players List
Now let’s look at the full Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad after IPL 2025 Auction:
Batters
Virat Kohli (21 Crores)
Rajat Patidar (11 Crores)
Tim David (3 Crores)
Manoj Bhandage (30 Lakhs)
Devdutt Padikkal (2 Crores)
Swastik Chikara (30 Lakhs)
Wicket Keepers
Phil Salt (11.50 Crores)
Jitesh Sharma (11 Crores)
All Rounders
Liam Livingstone (8.75 Crores)
Krunal Pandya (5.75 Crores)
Swapnil Singh (50 Lakhs)
Romario Shepherd (1.5 Crore)
Jacob Bethell (2.6 Crores)
Mohit Rathee (30 Lakhs)
Spinners
Suyash Sharma (2.6 Crores)
Abhinandan Singh (30 Lakhs)
Fast Bowlers
Josh Hazlewood (12.50 Crores)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10.75 Crores)
Yash Dayal (5 Crores)
Rasikh Salam (6 Crores)
Nuwan Thushara (1.6 Crore)
Lungi Ngidi (1 Crore)
Possible Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing XI IPL 2025:
Virat Kohli
Phil Salt* (WK)
Rajat Patidar
Liam Livingstone*
Krunal Pandya
Jitesh Sharma
Tim David*
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Josh Hazlewood*
Yash Dayal
Suyash Sharma
Impact Player: Rasikh Salam
Who is the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025?
As of now, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has not officially announced their captain for the IPL 2025 season. However, Virat Kohli is the likely candidate to take on the captaincy role.
Who is head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025?
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) coaching setup for IPL 2025 is led by head coach Andy Flower. He is backed by a skilled support staff, including Dinesh Karthik as the batting coach and Omkar Salvi as the bowling coach, among others.
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