IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru full squad, preview, SWOT analysis, likely XI

The three-time IPL runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are desperate to win their first IPL trophy. In the last five seasons, RCB reached the playoffs for four editions. Last season, RCB won only one match in their first eight fixtures but strongly made a comeback and beat the odds to qualify for the playoffs after winning all their last six league stage games. 

RCB retained two capped and one uncapped player ahead of the mega auction. To retain three players, the franchise spent INR 37 crore, as they had INR 83 crore in the purse for the mega auction. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Key additions from the mega auction

In the mega auction, RCB spent more than INR 10 crore for four key names, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, English opener Phil Salt, Indian cricketer Jitesh Sharma and pacer Bhuvneswar Kumar. They also have some big all-rounder names in the middle-order batting, like Liam Livingstone, Tim David, and Krunal Pandya. Devdutt Padikkal has returned to the RCB. The other big names in the pace-bowling options are South African Lungi Ngidi and Sri Lankan Nuwan Thusara. 

See Also: IPL 2025: Ranking all ten teams squads post the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

RCB Full Squad

Batters: Virat Kohli (retained), Rajat Patidar (retained), Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara

Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt (English), Jitesh Sharma

All-rounders: (RTM) Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone (English), Tim David (Australian), Jacob Bethell (English), Romario Shepherd (Guyanese), Krunal Pandya, Manoj Bhandage, Mohit Rathee

Spinners: Suyash Sharma

Pacers: Yash Dayal (retained), Josh Hazlewood (Australian), Lungi Ngidi (South African), Nuwan Thusara (Sri Lankan), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam Dar, Abhinandan Singh

Brief SWOT analysis

RCB have strong top-order and middle-order batting. The overseas all-rounders have strong strike rates which is appropriate for middle-order batting in T20 cricket. The bowling line-up is new with some big international names. RCB have limited experienced Indian names in pace and spin bowling options. The other Indian names in these categories aren’t experienced. 

RCB Best Possible XI for IPL 2025

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Tim David/Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi/Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal