RCB Best Playing 11 For IPL 2025: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction with the second-biggest purse, with Rs 83 Crore in the bank. Fans and experts expected them to go big on the likes of KL Rahul or even Rishabh Pant and use the Right-to-match (RTM) card for players like Mohammed Siraj. However, they took a different route and played the waiting game at the mega auction in Jeddah. At one stage, RCB had more than twice the budget of most other teams.
Renowned for spending a fortune at one odd famous name in the auction, RCB were rather careful this time around. RCB reacquired three of their former players—Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh and Josh Hazlewood—while also securing notable names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma and Krunal Pandya, among others.
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Hazlewood emerged as their most expensive signing at the IPL 2025 mega auction as they splurged Rs 12.50 crore on the Australian pacer.
As Bengaluru-based franchise looks to win their maiden IPL trophy with a revamped side, let’s look at what could be RCB’s best possible playing 11 for the IPL 2025 season:
Top Order: RCB’s opening pair for IPL 2025 is likely to feature Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, two standout openers from IPL 2024. Kohli might also reclaim the captaincy, given limited leadership options among RCB’s auction picks.
Middle Order: RCB’s middle order for IPL 2025 will feature Rajat Patidar as a key player, with England’s Jacob Bethell possibly filling in as a left-hander to counter spin. Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Krunal Pandya are also expected to strengthen the middle order. RCB might face a dilemma between selecting Tim David or Romario Shepherd, as they balance batting depth with the need for additional bowling options at their home ground. However, with the impact player option at disposal, one of them could find a place in the playing 11.
Lower Order: RCB’s lower order for IPL 2025 will feature key pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood with Rasikh Salam offering death-bowling skills and Yash Dayal as a fourth fast bowling option. Suyash Sharma, a leg-spinner, may be preferred over an additional batter as his role in the middle overs is crucial. Manoj Bhandage and Swapnil Singh may start on the bench, with RCB potentially opting for a stronger bowling lineup over extra batting depth.
RCB Best Probable Playing 11 For IPL 2025
Virat Kohli (c), Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma.
Impact Players: Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh
Here is the full squad of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after the IPL 2025 mega auction:
RCB Squad: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel
