Royal Challengers Bengaluru Best Playing 11 for IPL 2025

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What is the Best Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Playing 11 for IPL 2025? The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have almost completely changed their squad for IPL 2025. However, Virat Kohli still remains at the core of the squad. The IPL 2025 Mega Auction which took place in Jeddah was an opportunity for RCB to strengthen their position and prepare for a fascinating season strategically. Let’s analyse the Best RCB Playing 11 for IPL 2025. 

Key Buys of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for IPL 2025 

RCB have acquired some key players in the IPL 2025 Auction. Here is a list of all their prominent signings: 

  • Krunal Pandya: Rs. 5.75 crore. 
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Rs 10.75 crore.
  • Liam Livingstone: Rs. 8.75 crore.
  • Phil Salt: Rs. 11.50 crore.
  • Jitesh Sharma: Rs. 11 crore.
  • Josh Hazlewood: Rs. 12.50 crore.
  • Rasikh Dar: Rs. 6 crore.

Retained Players

Prior to the auction, RCB retained several crucial players, ensuring a strong foundation for their squad:

  • Virat Kohli: Rs. 21 crore
  • Rajat Patidar: Rs. 11 crore
  • Yash Dayal: Rs. 5 crore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Full Squad Overview

Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, and Suyash Sharma.

Best RCB Playing 11 for IPL 2025

Best RCB Playing 11 for IPL 2025 will look something like this: 

  1. Virat Kohli (Bat) 
  2. Phil Salt (Wk)
  3. Rajat Patidar (Bat)
  4. Jacob Bethell (Bat/Spin)
  5. Jitsh Sharma (Wk) 
  6. Liam Livingstone (Bat/Spin)
  7. Krunal Pandya (Spin/Bat)
  8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Pace)
  9. Josh Hazlewood (Pace)
  10. Rasikh Dar (Pace)
  11. Yash Dayal (Pace) 

Impact Players: Devdutt Padikkal and Suyash Sharma 

Here is a detailed analysis of the Best RCB Playing XI for IPL 2025: 

Virat Kohli  

Virat Kohli is definitely the backbone of RCB’s batting lineup. He has been with the team since the first season. Kohli has scored the most runs in the IPL. However, with a strong middle order comprising Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone, Kohli can take a step back. Thus, he can anchor RCB’s innings at the top of the order. Furthermore, there is a chance that we may see Virat Kohli leading RCB Playing 11 in IPL 2025. 

Phil Salt 

Phil Salt is a free-flowing batter. RCB lacked firepower at the top of the order last season. This season, the addition of Phil Salt seems to solve that problem. He can give RCB quick starts while Virat Kohli can take his time to settle down. This will help Kohli anchor the innings around him. Salt had an exceptional season with the KKR in IPL 2024. Hence, he would be looking forward to replicating the same results. 

Rajat Patidar 

Rajat Patidar has been a reliable middle order for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru over the last few seasons. He had a decent IPL 2024 with the bat. The best part of having Rajat Patidar at 3 is that even after an early wicket, he can keep the scoreboard ticking. 

Jacob Bethell 

Jacob Bethell is an all-rounder who will strengthen the batting of RCB. Bethell was bought for ₹2.60 crore and has also performed well in domestic cricket. He is a good aggressive batsman with handy left-arm spin. Hence, he will be useful in both departments. Since RCB already have a finisher in Liam Livingstone, it would make sense to prefer Bethell over Tim David. 

Jitesh Sharma 

Jitesh Sharma is a power-packed middle-order batsman and backup wicket-keeper. Picked in the auction for ₹11 crore, he has smacked 730 runs from 40 matches with an impressive strike rate of above 150. Jitesh Sharma has also impressed everyone with some innovative shots. He and Liam Livingstone will be the finishing duo of the RCB in IPL 2025. 

Liam Livingstone 

Liam Livingstone is currently one of the most explosive finishers in World Cricket. He has been acquired for ₹8.75 crores and has almost 1,000 runs with more than 160 strikes rate in IPL. Aggressive in batting, he can be used to bowl as a leg spinner if the team feels a need. Livingstone is going to play an important role for RCB this season as a finisher. This was something they lacked in IPL 2024. 

Krunal Pandya

Adding further all-round skills to RCB’s batting line, he was retained for ₹5.75 crore. Throughout his IPL career, he had claimed 76 wickets along with over 1,600 runs. Krunal is a left-arm spinning all-rounder known for his pressure play when it matters. Moreover, he could float in the batting order and anchor or finish for RCB.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is an experienced fast bowler. He is probably RCB’s best pick this season. RCB got him at a bargain price of just under Rs. 11 crores. He is one of the league’s highest wicket-takers. RCB struggled with new ball bowling in IPL 2024. Thus, Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking on the new ball is a big boon for RCB. 

Josh Hazlewood 

Sharing the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar is Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood is one of the best new ball bowlers in the world. With his test-match-like bowling, Hazlewood is the perfect partner for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to have. 

Rasikh Dar 

Rasikh Dar adds the much-needed youth and speed to the bowling line-up. Bought for ₹6 crore, Dar has shown promise in domestic cricket as a fast bowler. With him as the third seam option, RCB’s bowling attack looks sorted. He also has that slogging ability lower down the order. Thus, he may bat above Bhuvneshwar Kumar in RCB’s Best Playing XI for IPL 2025. 

Yash Dayal (Seam) 

Yash Dayal rounds out RCB’s bowling attack as a left-arm pacer. He has taken 28 wickets in his short IPL career at an economy rate of almost 9.5. What makes him special is that he can swing the ball back into the right-handers. Furthermore, Under the guidance of Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood, Yash Dayal will mature as a fast bowler. 

Impact Player Options

Devdutt Padikkal and Suyash Sharma are the probable impact players. Padikkal can also open the innings alongside Virat Kohli in case Phil Salt gets injured. Suyash Sharma is a decent leg spinner. He proved his worth for KKR in the last couple of seasons. 

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