IPL 2025: RCB's squad analysis and strongest Playing 11

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been constantly criticised for their poor auction strategies and this around as well the situation has been the same. The Bengaluru based team's fans are extremely unhappy with the franchise's decision of not retaining the services of Will Jacks, but if we take a look at the squad which the franchise has built ahead of IPL 2025, this team can field a phenomenal starting XI combination.The three time runners-up had retained the services of Yash Dayal, Virat Kohli and batter Rajat Patidar ahead of the 2025 IPL Mega-auction. 

RCB have built a powerful & strong squad

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have the legendary Virat Kohli in their team since the inaugural edition of the cash rich T20 league and the 36-year-old can be seen opening the innings this time around too. He's the only batter in the history of the tournament to cross the 8,000 runs mark and his performance with the bat will play a crucial role in the success of the Bengaluru based team. 

England's hard hitting wicket-keeper batsman Phil Salt was signed by Bengaluru in the Mega-auction for a whooping price tag of 11.50 crore Indian rupees and he had a successful season with the Kolkata Knight Riders, scoring 435 runs while opening the inning alongside Sunil Narine. Salt prefers to bat aggressively so his aggressive nature can prove to be helpful for Bengaluru. 

Right handed batter Rajat Patidar has proven on multiple occasions about his batting capability and his ability to bat well under pressure means he's a vital cog of the RCB batting unit. He will continue to bat at his preferred number three position, while Indian wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma, who was signed in the Mega-auction for mammoth price tag of 11 crore Indian rupees can handle the number four batting duties. Sharma has so far amassed a total of 730 IPL runs in 40 games. 

The hard-hitting duo of Tim David and Liam Livingstone, the newest additions in the roster of Royal Challengers Bengaluru can come in to bat at number five and six positions. Both of these players are well known for their hard hitting abilities with the bat, they can roll their arms over when required and they have scored high number of runs with their aggressive-batting style in International Cricket for their respective teams. 

The presence of these two provides some really good batting depth and stability to the three-time runner's up. Hardik Pandya's elder brother Krunal Pandya was picked up in the auction by the franchise as well and he will be playing the role of the spin-bowling All-rounder.

Top-notch bowling attack

Indian Cricket Team's swing master Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be seen leading the fast-bowling unit of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. Bhuvi's services were acquired for 10.75 crore Indian rupees and his acquisition might end up proving to be a fantastic one. 

Alongside Bhuvi, elite Australian Fast-Bowler Josh Hazelwood has also become a part of the team. The 33-year-old played a key role with the ball for Bengaluru in the 2021 edition of the tournament and he will be expected to do the same this time around as well. 

Apart from these two players, one of Yash Dayal Or Nuwan Thushara can be witnessed playing the role of the third pacer. At the same time, Bengaluru lacks in the spin-department as Krunal is the only main-spinner in the team. 

England's wonderkid Jacob Bethell is a part of the squad too, but he does not the experience of bowling on Indian surfaces. Swapnil Singh will be playing the role of the backup spinner. 

The bench-strength of the Bengaluru-based team looks strong too. If the team management decides to make Dayal their main pacer, then the likes of Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Salam, Thushara and Manoj Bhandage can play the roles of being the backups. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's strongest Starting XI in IPL 2025: Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Virat Kohli, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Yash Dayal, Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.

Do Read: IPL 2025: RCB Squad after Auction, Players, Prices and Full SWOT Analysis