Following a series of tough losses in the beginning, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) experienced a stunning comeback with six consecutive wins. Thanks to their impressive performance, they secured a spot in the playoffs by narrowly surpassing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on net run-rate. However, their hopes for an IPL title were put to an end in the Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals (RR).
As RCB’s quest for their first title continues into the 18th season, much attention is being drawn to this significant number – Virat Kohli’s jersey number and the team’s current standing. RCB will undoubtedly hope that this number holds some special significance for their future success.
Rajat Patidar’s appointment as captain signals a significant shift for RCB, as they have previously relied on established global players to lead the team. The recent mega auction suggests a shift towards valuing specific roles rather than individual personalities. This was evident in their decision not to pursue high-profile names like KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Rishabh Pant once their prices exceeded a certain point. This approach has also benefitted their budget in the past.
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As a result, the squad now boasts a greater balance. The bowling attack is well-rounded and capable of defending targets, even under challenging circumstances at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The team invested in players like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, spending a total of INR 23.25 crore, to bring reliability into their ranks. Additionally, they have several multi-dimensional players such as Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya, Phil Salt, and Jitesh Sharma who add firepower throughout the lineup.
The support staff, led by Mo Bobat and Andy Flower, has bolstered the Indian representation by enlisting mentor Dinesh Karthik and former Kolkata Knight Riders coach, Omkar Salvi. This addition comes after Karthik’s tenure as captain with KKR.
Top choice XII
1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rajat Patidar as captain, 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma as wicketkeeper, 6 Either Jacob Bethell or Tim David batting next, 7 Krunal Pandya in the lower order, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the bowling attack, 9 Yash Dayal also in the bowling lineup, followed by 10 Josh Hazlewood and 11 Suyash Sharma as well. Lastly, either Rasikh Salam or Devdutt Padikkal could also make an appearance.
Jacob Bethell, a left-handed all-rounder, has caught the attention of many, including former RCB player Glenn Maxwell. With his impressive skill set of big hitting, left-arm spin bowling, and excellent fielding abilities, he is the ideal replacement for Maxwell in the first-XI. If he continues to impress, it will mark another milestone in his promising career. In 2022, he made a breakthrough with a stellar performance of 88 runs off 42 balls for England in the Under-19 World Cup against South Africa.
The following year, his exceptional catch during the T20 Blast went viral, and in 2024, he set a record for the fastest fifty – scoring an unbeaten 56 runs off just 16 balls – in Birmingham Bears history. He has already made his debut in all three formats for England. Now the question remains – what will he achieve in the IPL?
Rasikh Salam’s cricketing career could have faced a bleak outcome. Upon his return from serving a two-year ban for age fraud, he suffered a stress injury in his back. Despite recovering from the injury, he struggled to secure a spot in his home team, Jammu & Kashmir. Thanks to the guidance of Irfan Pathan and the Mumbai Indians – who first took him under their wing in 2018 as a young player – Rasikh has managed to turn things around.
His impressive performance with the Delhi Capitals during last year’s IPL season has significantly boosted his reputation. With an impressive arsenal of skills such as a powerful back-of-the-hand slower ball, improved variations, speed, and lower-order hitting abilities, Rasikh has become an exciting prospect in the world of cricket.
Important data
In the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, eleven batters achieved over 300 runs. The player with the highest strike rate was Patidar, who scored at 186.08. With a total of 428 runs in nine innings at an average of 61.14, he emerged as the second-highest scorer in the tournament and also hit the most sixes (27).
Bhuvneshwar Kumar boasts the top economy rate of 6.03 amongst all bowlers who took a minimum of ten wickets in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
In 2024, RCB’s playoff spot in the IPL was secured through a six-game winning streak, which was only surpassed by their seven-game streak in 2011 when they reached the final. However, their current season also brought them their lowest number of wins (one) within the first eight games of reaching the playoffs.
Who’s out and who’s uncertain?
After sitting out the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and also being absent from the Champions Trophy due to a calf injury, Josh Hazlewood is set to make a return for RCB in the IPL, having last played for them in 2023.
Bethell’s availability for the start of the season was in question due to an injury sustained during the India ODI series, causing him to sit out the Champions Trophy. However, he is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring issue.
