Royal Challengers Bengaluru Complete Squad Analysis After IPL 2025 Auction

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) entered the IPL 2025 mega auction with a purse of ₹83 crore, the second-highest among all franchises. The management looked to strengthen their Indian core while ensuring a balanced squad with all-rounders and bowlers.

The franchise chose not to go for KL Rahul, who joined Delhi Capitals after RCB rested their bid at ₹10.75 crore. Instead, they focused on building their bowling unit and adding impactful all-rounders. The signings of uncapped bowlers like Jitesh Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, and Suyash Sharma on Day 1 showed their intent to address their long-standing bowling concerns.

On Day 2, with ₹30.65 crore remaining, RCB secured big names like Tim David and veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, rounding off a well-balanced squad.

Let’s take a closer look at RCB’s final squad after the IPL 2025 auction.

RCB Final Squad for IPL 2025

• Retained Players: Virat Kohli (C), Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal
• Auction Signings: Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Lungi Ngidi, Swastik Chikkara, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee

Batting Unit

RCB’s batting line-up remains solid with experienced players and young talents.

• Virat Kohli (C): The talismanic batter continues to lead the side. Known for his consistency, Kohli will anchor the innings and provide stability at the top.
• Rajat Patidar: An aggressive top-order batter, Patidar’s ability to take on spinners makes him a valuable asset in the middle overs.
• Phil Salt: A wicketkeeper-batter, Salt is known for his attacking approach at the top. He can play an explosive role in the powerplay.
• Devdutt Padikkal: The elegant left-handed batter returns to RCB, adding depth to the batting order.
• Tim David: A power-hitter, David’s ability to finish games with big shots makes him an ideal fit for RCB’s lower order.

The addition of Jacob Bethell and Swastik Chikkara strengthens the batting depth, while versatile players like Liam Livingstone and Krunal Pandya provide additional firepower.

All-Rounders

RCB made smart additions to their all-rounder pool to bring balance to the squad.

• Liam Livingstone: A dynamic batting all-rounder, Livingstone’s ability to hit big sixes and provide part-time spin makes him a crucial pick.
• Krunal Pandya: A bowling all-rounder, Pandya brings experience with both bat and ball. He can bowl tight overs in the middle and contribute with handy runs down the order.
• Tim David and Romario Shepherd: Both players are known for their finishing abilities and can chip in with the ball when needed.
• Swapnil Singh and Manoj Bhandage add depth to the all-rounder department, offering flexibility in the playing XI.

Bowling Attack

RCB addressed their long-standing bowling concerns with a strong mix of pace and spin.

• Josh Hazlewood: A reliable pacer, Hazlewood’s ability to bowl in the powerplay and at the death makes him a key figure in RCB’s bowling unit.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The experienced Indian pacer adds variety with his swing and ability to bowl economical overs in the powerplay.
• Rasikh Dar Salam and Suyash Sharma: These young Indian bowlers bring fresh energy and skills to the team. Salam’s pace and Suyash’s leg-spin could be crucial for RCB in the middle overs.
• Lungi Ngidi and Nuwan Thushara: Both overseas pacers add depth to the pace attack, providing RCB with multiple options for different match conditions.
• Yash Dayal: Retained for his left-arm pace, Dayal will play a key role in RCB’s bowling strategy.
• Mohit Rathee and Abhinandan Singh: Uncapped bowlers who add variety to the squad.

Wicketkeeping

RCB has a strong wicketkeeping unit with options like Phil Salt and Jitesh Sharma. Both are explosive batters who can adapt to different situations, making them valuable additions to the squad.

Conclusion

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have built a balanced squad for IPL 2025, focusing on strengthening their bowling and adding impactful all-rounders. With stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood, complemented by exciting talents like Liam Livingstone and Tim David, RCB have the tools to end their IPL title drought. Their mix of experience and youth across departments makes them a strong contender for the upcoming season.

RCB Squad 2025 – Full List

Player	Role	Price (INR)
Virat Kohli (C)	Batter	21 crore
Josh Hazlewood	Bowler	12.5 crore
Phil Salt	Wicketkeeper Batter	11.5 crore
Rajat Patidar	Batter	11 crore
Jitesh Sharma	Wicketkeeper Batter	11 crore
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	Bowler	10.75 crore
Liam Livingstone	Batting All-rounder	8.75 crore
Rasikh Salam Dar	Bowler	6 crore
Krunal Pandya	Bowling All-rounder	5.75 crore
Yash Dayal	Bowler	5 crore
Tim David	All-rounder	3 crore
Suyash Sharma	Bowler	2.6 crore
Jacob Bethell	Batting All-rounder	2.6 crore
Devdutt Padikkal	Batter	2 crore
Nuwan Thushara	Bowler	1.6 crore
Romario Shepherd	Bowling All-rounder	1.5 crore
Lungi Ngidi	Bowler	1 crore
Swapnil Singh	Bowling All-rounder	50 lakh
Manoj Bhandage	All-rounder	30 lakh
Swastik Chikkara	Batter	30 lakh
Abhinandan Singh	Bowler	30 lakh
Mohit Rathee	Bowler	30 lakh