IPL 2025 Auction: RCB squad analysis

Royal Challengers Bengaluru had the second-largest purse leading to the IPL 2025 mega-auction. They retained only Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal and added the experience of Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Liam Livingstone, and Krunal Pandya among others in the auction. However, they didn’t use RTM cards on Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Maxwell, and Will Jacks, which was slightly surprising.

RCB were also expected to get either Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, or Shreyas Iyer but interestingly, they did not want to go the distance for either of the players. They signed some quality overseas players anyway but the Indian batting unit looks slightly pale. Devdutt Paidkkal returned to the franchise but his form in the last few editions of the IPL wasn’t any good.

Josh Hazlewood will lead the bowling unit that also features Bhuvneshwar. Players such as Rasikh Salam Dar and Nuwan Thushara can be effective if used well. Swapnil Singh and Krunal can be productive in the middle overs but the team looks slightly undercooked. The duo of Kohli and Salt will have to be at their best for RCB to qualify for the playoffs.

Squad Strength: 22

Indian Players: 14

Overseas Players: 8

Retained Players (3): Virat Kohli (21 cr), Rajat Patidar (11 cr), Yash Dayal (5 cr)

Players bought in the auction (19): Josh Hazlewood (12.50 cr), Phil Salt (11.50 cr), Jitesh Sharma (11 cr), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10.75 cr), Liam Livingstone (8.75 cr), Rasikh Salam (6 cr), Krunal Pandya (5.75 cr), Tim David (3 cr), Jacob Bethell (2.6 cr), Suyash Sharma (2.6 cr), Devdutt Padikkal (2 cr), Nuwan Thushara (1.6 cr), Romario Shepherd (1.5 cr), Lungi Ngidi (1 cr), Swapnil Singh (50L), Manoj Bhandage (30L), Swastik Chikara (30L), Mohit Rathee (30L), Abhinandan Singh (30L)