IPL 2025: Predicted Royal Challengers Bangalore playing 11

There’s something about Royal Challengers Bangalore, which makes them so appealing to the masses. Of course, Virat Kohli has a lot to do with that but there are several other reasons too. RCB never had a shortage of blockbuster players in their squad. The home fans also take a lot of pride in making them a well-known franchise in world cricket. However, what’s missing in their high-profile resume is that one elusive trophy. 17 seasons have gone by and the Red Army are still in the quest for winning that one IPL trophy. RCB aren’t known to build a well-balanced squad at the auction. However, this time around, they were right at the money at the auction table. 

Despite having the second biggest purse at the auction, RCB didn’t let their ego come in the way and restricted themselves from spending a huge chunk of money on one big player. They, rather, targeted the loop holes and ended up making a well-balanced squad. They have done a great job at the auction and the players need to put in consistent performance on the field and who knows this could well be the season.

From openers to power hitters in the middle-order, from a decent spin attack to an experienced pace unit, RCB, indeed has all bases covered. They have got a great opener in Phil Salt, who is most likely to accompany Virat at the top. 

They have got serious power in the middle-order, plus the addition of Krunal Pandya and Jitesh Sharma only provides the depth in batting. RCB would be delighted to have two experienced fast bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in their squad. They had already retained one left-arm pacer in Yash Dayal, which provides variety. 

On that note, here's a look at the best predicted Royal Challengers Bangalore eleven ahead of IPL 2025 season:

1. Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli continues to play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as he has been retained for a whopping 21 crores. If reports are true, he will be back donning the role of the team’s captain. He, recently, scored a century in the Perth Test and looked solid during his stay. Kohli’s form will hold key to the team’s fortune in the upcoming season. 

2. Phil Salt 

RCB let go of Will Jacks but has acquired a solid top-order batter in Phil Salt. His aggressive nature of play should make a perfect pair with someone like Kohli at the top. In 21 matches in IPL, Phil Salt has 653 runs at an average of 34.37 and a strike rate of 175.54. 

3. Rajat Patidar 

RCB has also retained the services of Rajat Patidar, who should play at three in the IPL 2025 season. Patidar has been nothing short of sensational for the franchise in the last couple of years. Striking at over 170, Patidar scored close to 400 runs at an average of 30.38 in the last edition. An exceptional player of spin, Patidar’s presence in the middle order will ensure stability to the team. 

4. Liam Livingstone 

The English batter has been in exceptional form in the shortest format, of late. RCB needed some firepower in the middle-order and they have managed to acquire a perfect batter in Livingstone. A like-for-like replacement for Glenn Maxwell, the England batter can turn the game around in a short space of time. He will likely bat at number four in RCB’s line-up in the upcoming season. 

5. Tim David 

Australia’s power-hitter, Tim David strengthens RCB’s power-hitting. He is the ideal man to have in the latter stage of the innings. He has shown what he can do with the bat, especially in death overs, while playing for Mumbai Indians. RCB would be hoping that he replicates similar performances for them in the upcoming season. 

6. Jitesh Sharma 

Jitesh Sharma made his IPL debut in the 2022 edition and finished the season as the breakout star. He showed his versatility and wide range of shots and it was followed with a maiden India call-up in 2023. Jitesh Sharma has featured for the Indian team in nine T20 internationals so far. He would be hungry to score runs and stamp his authority with the bat. The shorter boundaries at M Chinnaswamy stadium should suit his style of batting. 

7. Krunal Pandya

Royal Challengers Bangalore have signed Krunal Pandya for INR 5.75 crore ahead of the upcoming season. His presence in the eleven should ensure them great depth in the batting- something that they were lacking in the past few seasons. Besides, the all-rounder can fill in as the second spinner in the team. 

8. Suyash Sharma 

In the spin department, RCB have placed their bet on Suyash Sharma. The young spinner will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders to pick wickets in the middle-order. He made his debut last season for KKR. The leg-spinner made heads turn in his very first game as he scalped three wickets, that too against RCB. It will be interesting to see how he fares for a new franchise. 

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s addition in the side is one of the biggest positives for RCB, this season. The Indian pacer brings much-needed experience in the pace department. He is someone RCB can rely on, both in the powerplay and at the death. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s economy has gone for a toss in the last couple of seasons and that could be a concern, though. 

10. Josh Hazlewood 

Josh Hazlewood has returned to M Chinnaswamy Stadium and the fans are pretty delighted. His ability to extract bounce coupled with decent pace makes him the perfect man to lead the pace attack. His four-over spells are going to be crucial in the team’s quest for winning the title. 

11. Yash Dayal 

RCB didn’t retain Siraj but has put faith in Yash Dayal’s services for the upcoming season. He was one of the three retentions RCB made ahead of the auction. With his left-arm angle, Yash Dayal brings variety in the pace attack. Additionally, he can bowl both in the powerplay and at the death, which serves well for the team.