The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is one of the most popular IPL franchises. The franchise has been a part of the IPL since its inception, having competed in all 17 seasons of the lucrative competition. However, it is currently awaiting its first title. Before the IPL 2025 major auctions, which are expected to occur later this month, RCB retained three players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal.

RCB will have three Right To Match (RTM) cards available in the mega auctions, and the franchise owners are hoping to bring back as many players as possible. The squad has had a great 2024 season and wants to convert their maiden IPL title with a significant team restructuring from the Mega Auction, as they have the potential to acquire top players from the under-the-hammer roster. Here are the five top-player recommendations for the side to target in the forthcoming 2025 IPL Mega Auction. 

KL Rahul

KL Rahul will be one of the targets of the loyal fanbase-backed squad in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction for apparent reasons. Rahul had a fantastic IPL 2016 with RCB. However, he missed the 2017 season due to injuries and was released before the 2018 Mega Auction. He later played for the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Lucknow Super Giants, but he could return to his home franchise, which has only kept three players, including a colossal purchasing purse.

Rahul has always been liked by the RCB faithful, partly because he is from Bengaluru, and the team is in dire need of a reliable wicketkeeper batter. Fans should anticipate that RCB will bid quite expensively for Rahul in the blockbuster auction. In the 2024 edition, he has made a commendable 520 runs in 14 matches with four half-centuries.

Mitchell Starc

RCB has historically struggled with a reliable bowling attack, which has been overlooked by their dynamic batting lineup, and Mitchell Starc can help address that gap. Starc's ability to perform in high-pressure circumstances and his previous stint with RCB in 2015 suggest he might be the missing piece in RCB's quest for their first IPL victory. His expertise and talent in T20 cricket make him an excellent choice to command their bowling unit.

In IPL 2024, as the most expensive player in the tournament ever, Starc demonstrated his brilliance by collecting crucial wickets and maintaining an exceptional economy rate during playoffs, further cementing his worth to a club needing bowling consistency. In his triumphant 2024 campaign with the Kolkata Knight Riders, he has taken 17 wickets in 14 matches. 

Will Jacks

Will Jacks, another major player for RCB in the 2024 season, had a massive influence after replacing Maxwell in the playing XI. Jack's ability to dominate pacers and spinners and his helpful spin bowling may urge RCB to utilise their RTM to keep him. With his swashbuckling style, he can restore the team's batting glory days, as they have the opportunity to win their first title through a restructure in the upcoming Mega Auction.

In eight matches, the 25-year-old English all-rounder scored 230 runs at a fantastic 175.57 strike rate, including a spectacular 41-ball century against the Gujarat Titans.

Also Read: IPL 2025: 5 players Mumbai Indians should target for in the upcoming IPL Mega Auction

Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj, who has been at RCB since 2018, was also included on the list of players revealed ahead of the mega auction. Siraj grabbed 15 wickets in 14 IPL 2024 matches while maintaining a solid economy rate of 9.19 economy. But as they say, every player has a rough patch in their sporting stint; Siraj will be desperate to come back with a bang through the fierce and intense 2025 IPL.

He is well-known for his ability to take wickets with the new ball, but his recent improvements at death bowling make him an invaluable asset. RCB may use their RTM option to bring him back, as they need a reliable Indian pacer who can spearhead the team's bowling attack and align with its goals by being aware of the Indian conditions. 

Rachin Ravindran

Rachin Ravindra, the all-rounder from New Zealand, is one of cricket's hottest prospects, making him a priority target for several prominent teams in the forthcoming IPL 2025 big auction. He had a terrific time with CSK throughout the 2024 IPL season, but now that they have opted not to put him on the retention list, RCB might consider him a top-order alternative to Virat Kohli.

Ravindra has the talent and skill to adjust to varied circumstances with the bat and ball, which should serve him well regardless of where he ends up in the next edition. Though he had a mediocre debut IPL sit-in with the Chennai Super Kings by scoring just 222 runs in ten games, his awareness of the Indian conditions would act as the major USP for the team to acquire his services. 

The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League, a tournament that has always set the benchmark for the shortest format of the game, has once again raised the bar.

This year, we’ve witnessed some incredible performances, with shattered long-standing records and international and emerging players making their mark on Indian soil. The batters of the tournament have indeed embodied the spirit of IPL 2024. In this listicle, we’re taking a closer look at the top five extraordinary batting innings that have captivated the cricketing world in the 2024 edition. 

1. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) vs Rajasthan Royals- 109 runs off 56 balls

Hailed as one of the toughest spinners, Sunil Narine, the Trinidadian spinmeister, has proved his impeccable calibre with the bat, thanks to the IPL platform for displaying his willow-handling skills. Though he started his stint as an opener during the 2017 Big Bash League, his long stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders helped him unleash batting prowess, and the clash against Rajasthan Royals summed it all up.

Against a robust Royals bowling attack on the vast Eden Gardens track, Narine pumped up his batting shots and got off to a flying start. With 13 boundaries and six sixes, he had hit his first-ever century across his batting timeline, with a commendable strike rate of 194.64. To add things up, this memorable batting innings made him the first player in the IPL to have scored a hundred and picked a five-wicket haul.

2. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) vs Kolkata Knight Riders- 107* runs off 60 balls

To give a small continuation to Sunil Narine’s memorable first century, it was in the same clash of the best; the fans witnessed another stupendous batting innings. After giving a target of 224 runs to the Rajasthan Royals, the away side was up for it amongst the vast grounds of the Eden Gardens. But he had got off slightly slow as he made only 25 off his first 18 balls.

But although struggling with the injury that kept him out of the last RR game and rapidly running out of batting partners, Buttler stayed the course. And taking the match to an enthralling last ball, Buttler’s innings of 107* runs off 60 balls, with nine fours and six sixes, he had taken his visitor’s side team to a victory by two wickets, which kind of overshadowed Narine’s commendable knock. 

3. Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) vs Gujarat Titans- 100* runs off 41 balls

With a quick-pace triple-digit mark and an awestruck reaction by King Kohli, Will Jacks’s century is a wholesome and flavourful batting innings. Starting things off with 17 runs in just 17 balls, in the successive 24 balls, the English batter hit the remaining runs to reach his first-ever IPL century.

Though he had come lately to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting campaign, he had proved to be an instrumental element to the team’s middle order batting, which led him to a memorable six-consecutive winning stint, which led them to seal the final playoffs spot, when they just had a mere 1% chance, symbolising the team’s resilient and robust mentality approach. 

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4. Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru- 102 runs off 41 balls

In the clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on the small dimensions of Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru broke the long-held record of the highest team score ever in IPL, where Sunrisers Hyderabad took that title away from the previous holders of Bengaluru, thanks to the swashbuckling Aussie batter, Travis Head.

With already announcing his stint in the IPL from an excellent first-match performance, Head accelerated his performance and got him to this stage, where he proved to be handy in scoring the highest team total of IPL of 287/3 by making a century off just 39 balls. In his innings of 102 runs off 41 balls, he hit nine fours and eight sixes at a colossal strike rate of 248.78. 

5. Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings) vs Gujarat Titans- 61* runs off 29 balls 

In this listicle, we have seen all the centuries making the mark, but a few innings have created a long-lasting impact, but it didn’t require a triple-digit mark. One such innings is by the Punjab Kings’ middle-order batting powerhouse, Shashank Singh. It all started in last year’s IPL auction when the Kings bought him instead of another player with the same name, leading to a case of mistaken identity.

With several rumours goofed up, the franchise clarified it and mentioned that he was always on their planned list. As it implies, the batter from Chattisgarh paid back the trust and scored an impeccable innings of 61* runs off 29 balls in a 200-run chase against the Gujarat Titans. This innings is a testament to seizing any opportunity given to a person from different walks of life, which also bolstered the batter’s confidence and led him to be a valuable batting asset to the Punjab Kings. 

The ongoing IPL 2024 season has witnessed significant developments as players make pivotal decisions regarding their participation. Jos Buttler from Rajasthan Royals and Will Jacks & Reece Topley from Royal Challengers Bangalore joined Livingstone in returning to England.

Departure of Will Jacks, and Reece Topley

Jos Buttler from Rajasthan Royals and Will Jacks and Reece Topley from Royal Challengers Bangalore will join Livingstone in returning to England. These players have departed the IPL to join the England squad ahead of the T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled to commence on May 22. The exodus of key players underscores the international commitments prioritized by players during the IPL season.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Setback

The departure of Will Jacks and Reece Topley deals a blow to the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad, particularly during a crucial tournament phase where their playoff aspirations hang in the balance. Jacks, in particular, played a pivotal role in bolstering RCB’s recent winning streak with his stellar batting performances. However, Topley’s inconsistent bowling performances led to his exclusion from the playing group after a series of expensive spells in the IPL 2024.

Punjab Kings’ Liam Livingstone’s Return to England for Knee Recuperation

Punjab Kings’ all-rounder Liam Livingstone has opted to depart from the IPL midway to address a knee injury before the forthcoming T20 World Cup. In an Instagram post, Livingstone expressed gratitude to the Punjab Kings fans while acknowledging the disappointing season for both himself and the team. Livingstone cherished his IPL experience despite the setback, emphasizing his love for the game.

Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Phil Salt will also leave India this week, with England players expected back in the country by this weekend. The squad will meet up in Leeds ahead of England’s first T20I against Pakistan at Headingley on May 22.

RCB’s Playoffs Qualification Scenario

With their fifth win on the trot, RCB are making a late push for a playoff spot and it now boils down to their final league game against CSK – who are also fighting for the playoff spot. A loss will bring curtains to the RCB campaign, but a win will keep them alive. But for that, RCB would need to beat CSK by more than 18 runs (if they score 200) to get their NRR over CSK’s. SRH and LSG could still surpass RCB, but by the time RCB face CSK on Saturday, LSG would have played both matches. If SRH and LSG lose their remaining games and do not go beyond 14 points and RCB beat CSK by the said margin, both RCB and CSK can go through to top 4.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru displayed a commanding performance against the Gujarat Titans, showcasing their prowess in handling spin bowling with remarkable ease. In a high-stakes match held in Ahmedabad, RCB chased down a substantial target of 201 runs, securing a dominant win with nine wickets still in hand and a considerable four overs remaining.

This emphatic victory was spearheaded by Virat Kohli, whose masterful unbeaten 70 off 44 balls, including 34 runs meticulously scored against spinners, underscored his crucial role in the chase. The momentum in the innings was further accelerated by Will Jacks, who delivered a stunning display of batting.

Jacks’ innings culminated in a dramatic fashion as he scored his maiden IPL century on the final ball of his stint, an achievement that not only highlighted his batting talent but also ensured RCB crossed the finish line with time to spare. This performance by Jacks, along with Kohli’s strategic mastery against spin, exemplified RCB’s comprehensive approach to tackling challenging targets and underscored their capability to outperform in crucial moments of the tournament.

See Also: IPL 2024: Player Analysis: Jake Fraser-McGurk Dominates Mumbai with a Swift 84-Run Onslaught

In-depth Analysis of Will Jacks’ onslaught on the Titans

RCB demonstrated their adeptness against spin in an impressive display, dismantling the Gujarat Titans’ spin attack and accumulating 124 runs from the 11 overs bowled by Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and R Sai Kishore. Despite the challenging conditions, RCB batters exploited the surface effectively as it became increasingly favorable for strokeplay as the match progressed.

Rashid Khan, typically a key asset for GT, was unable to stem the flow of runs, conceding 51 runs without a wicket. Similarly, Noor Ahmad gave away 43 runs, and R Sai Kishore, although managing to claim a wicket, also leaked 30 runs. This relentless assault by RCB left the GT spinners struggling for control and searching for cover, underlining the strength and strategic execution of the Bangalore batting lineup in exploiting favorable match conditions.

Before the tenth over, Will Jacks’ innings was relatively quiet, with his only boundary coming from a fortuitous outside edge against Noor Ahmad, a ball he failed to read properly. However, the introduction of Mohit Sharma into the attack marked a turning point for Jacks, allowing him to fully express his aggressive batting style.

He seized the opportunity to display his power-hitting capabilities, launching a delivery over deep midwicket followed by a masterful strike over extra cover from a slower ball. Jacks’ momentum continued to build as he confidently took on both Sai Kishore and Noor Ahmad in the following overs, dispatching them over long-on and deep square leg, respectively.

This aggressive sequence of shots dramatically accelerated his scoring rate, propelling him from a cautious 16 off as many balls to an explosive 44 off just 29 deliveries. This burst of runs not only showcased Jacks’ ability to escalate his scoring pace but also underscored his potential to dominate and change the course of an innings within a few overs.

Will Jacks intensified his assault in Mohit Sharma’s second over, hitting three sixes including one off a no-ball and two fours, bringing Royal Challengers Bengaluru within striking distance of victory. In a stunning display of power hitting, Jacks finished the match with a sequence of 6, 6, 4, 6, 6, propelling himself to a century and securing RCB’s third win in ten matches. This explosive inning not only clinched the victory but also provided a significant boost to their net run rate.

In a dazzling display of power-hitting prowess, Will Jacks etched his name in the annals of IPL history with a breathtaking century against the Gujarat Titans in Match 45 of the ongoing edition. Representing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Jacks’ innings unfolded as a spectacle of brilliance and dominance.

The Spectacular Century

In a high-stakes encounter, Will Jacks seized the spotlight with a mesmerizing display of batting prowess. Slamming an outstanding century off just 41 deliveries, Jacks showcased his ability to decimate even the most formidable bowling attacks. Partnering with the iconic Virat Kohli, Jacks propelled RCB towards a resounding victory, leaving spectators spellbound.

See Also: Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 9 wickets

Impact on RCB’s Performance

The ramifications of Jacks’s century reverberated beyond the confines of the match, signaling a resurgence for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Not only did RCB secure a crucial victory, but Jacks’ heroics also bolstered the team’s Net Run Rate (NRR), breathing new life into their playoff aspirations for the season.

Will Jacks’ Batting Mastery

Renowned for his clean, striking, fearless approach, Jacks exemplified his batting prowess with a stunning array of shots, including 10 sixes and five fours, leaving the opposition in awe and admiration.

The journey to Jacks’s century was punctuated by moments of sheer brilliance and dominance, particularly against Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma. A pivotal over against Rashid Khan saw Jacks unleash a flurry of boundaries and sixes, propelling him to the coveted milestone with unrivaled ferocity and finesse.

Fan Reactions

Fans across the cricketing world are showering praise on Will Jacks for his match-winning knock against the Gujarat Titans.

Several key players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 are facing the prospect of early exits from the tournament due to their international commitments. These players, integral to their IPL franchises, are likely to depart earlier than expected, leaving a void in their teams’ line-ups. Let’s know about the details of these potential departures and their impact on the ongoing IPL season.

Reece Topley (RCB)

Representing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Reece Topley is an essential component of England’s T20 World Cup plans. Scheduled to leave in the third week of May, Topley’s absence could pose a challenge for RCB’s bowling lineup as they strive for success in the IPL.

Sikandar Raza (PBKS)

Playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sikandar Raza is expected to bid adieu to the IPL by the end of April. With Zimbabwe set to tour Bangladesh for five T20Is, Raza’s departure could disrupt PBKS’ balance in the middle order.

Mustafizur Rahman (CSK)

For Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mustafizur Rahman’s services might not be available in May due to Bangladesh’s T20I series against Zimbabwe and the USA. Rahman’s absence could affect CSK’s bowling options in the crucial stages of the tournament.

Jos Buttler (RR)

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Jos Buttler could receive a call back in the third week of May as England prepares to face Pakistan in four T20Is starting from May 22. Buttler’s potential departure could leave a significant void in RR’s batting lineup.

Will Jacks (RCB)

Another player from RCB, Will Jacks, is a vital cog in England’s T20 World Cup plans. Like Topley, he might leave the IPL early to participate in T20Is against Pakistan, potentially impacting RCB’s middle-order stability.

Liam Livingstone (PBKS)

PBKS’s Liam Livingstone is another English player who could exit the IPL prematurely to feature in the Pakistan series. His departure might disrupt PBKS’s plans, especially considering his all-round capabilities.

Moeen Ali (CSK)

CSK’s Moeen Ali could face unavailability issues with England facing Pakistan from May 22 onwards. Ali’s departure might leave a void in CSK’s middle order and spin department.

Phil Salt (KKR)

Representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), opener Phil Salt might also face an early exit from the IPL due to England’s series against Pakistan. KKR could struggle to find a suitable replacement for Salt at the top of the order.

Joshua Little (Gujarat Titans)

Although he hasn’t featured in any games this season, Joshua Little of Gujarat Titans might have to leave in May as Ireland plays Pakistan in three T20Is from May 10 to 14. His absence might not directly impact Gujarat Titans but could affect their squad depth.

Sam Curran (PBKS)

PBKS’s Sam Curran, a key member of the team, might be unavailable towards the end of the league stage due to his international commitments. His absence could pose challenges for PBKS in both batting and bowling departments.

Jonny Bairstow (PBKS)

Another PBKS player, Jonny Bairstow, might have to depart early to be available for England’s T20Is against Pakistan. His early exit could disrupt PBKS’s batting plans and team balance.

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These potential departures due to international commitments highlight the delicate balance between IPL participation and national team duties. Cricket enthusiasts will keenly observe how these developments unfold and the subsequent impact on their respective IPL franchises.