Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has always been among the most rooted teams to win the Indian Premier League (IPL). This is even though they have never won an IPL title, which may surprise new cricket fans.
The thing is that RCB has always had a star-studded lineup, and they have signed some of the biggest names in the industry in the past, like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Virat Kohli, who is still part of the team.
However, many also see this as a disadvantage. While having big names is great, RCB has often been too dependent on their top-order batsmen. When these players fail, the team struggles. They haven’t consistently developed a strong middle-order or reliable finishers, but things might be different for the upcoming 18th edition of the IPL.
RCB’s Strategy During the Mega Auction for IPL 2025
RCB only retained three players even if the franchises can finally have up to 6 retentions. Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal are the players retained, which left the team with ₹83 crore and three Right to Match (RTM) cards before the auction.
RCB’s auction approach shows they want to assemble a more formidable and well-rounded team. They prioritised increasing their batting power by bringing back Devdutt Padikkal and acquiring aggressive openers like Phil Salt. This might give Kohli much help and the freedom to bat where he wants.
Overseas Players that Could Help RCB Bag an IPL Title
RCB also brought in exciting overseas talent. Here are a few of them who could be crucial to their success:
Phil Salt (signed for INR 11.50 crore)
This explosive English opener has been in terrific form in recent T20 leagues. RCB’s batting coach, Dinesh Karthik, expressed excitement about Salt’s acquisition and mentioned how impressive Salt’s ability to score quickly is, so he’s a valuable addition to the team. He also had an outstanding 2024 season, scoring 435 runs at a strike rate of 182.01 in 12 games for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Josh Hazlewood (INR 2.60 crore)
Hazlewood has been a key figure for Australia in all formats, and his ability to swing the ball early and nail yorkers at the death makes him a valuable asset for RCB. In the recent ODI series against England, Hazlewood took 8 wickets at an average of 24.62.
Jacob Bethell
This young English all-rounder is a rising star. A left-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spinner, Bethell provides excellent balance to the side. While he’s yet to break into the England team, his performances in county cricket have been impressive. He recently scored a century and took a five-wicket haul in the exact match. Bethell could be a real wildcard for RCB.
Liam Livingstone
Livingstone is a powerful striker of the ball and a handy off-spinner, adding depth and firepower to the RCB middle order. He’s been a consistent performer in T20 leagues, and he had a decent outing in the recent T20 World Cup, scoring 123 runs at a strike rate of 140.
Who’s To Captain RCB?
There’s been a lot of speculation about who will captain RCB after they haven’t retained 2-year captain Faf du Plessis. While most franchises have announced their captains, RCB remains quiet about this. However, many expect Kohli to lead the RCB team again.
In an interview, RCB head coach Andy Fowler recently mentioned that Kohli is a strong candidate, but they haven’t decided yet. So, while many news articles have already seemed to confirm his return as captain, we still have to wait for an official announcement.
Former RCB player AB de Villiers has voiced his support for Kohli. He said, “Friends, I think Virat Kohli is the only option [for RCB’s captaincy choice). He is near the end of his career, more inspired than ever before. Until he gets the form and scores runs, we are used to watching him play match-winning innings. It’s like a swansong.”
In the End : Fans are hopeful that this will be the year RCB will finally win their first-ever IPL championship, and the latest betting odds show that they’re one of the favorites to win alongside Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
While everyone is still waiting for the captaincy announcement, we can already tell that they have assembled a strong and balanced squad for this season. Consistency is key, and as cliché as that is, this is what could genuinely help RCB win an IPL final.
*Pics Credit-Sportskeeda.com)
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