There have already been 17 editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and four teams have yet to win this prestigious title. One of them is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and it’s a question why they have never won an IPL final.
RCB has had some of the biggest names in cricket, including Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle, and many fans would expect a star-studded team to clinch the title. They also have some of the most passionate and loyal fan bases who’ve witnessed how close the team has come to the championship.
IPL 2025 RCB Full List of Players
RCB finalised its 2025 squad list on December 3, 2024, after the IPL Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Before they made their purchases during the auction, they retained three players: Virat Kohlu, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. Here’s their 2025 roster:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Swastik Chhikara, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Nuwan Thushara, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.
Livingstone, Hazlewood, and Salt – Overseas Players That Could Help RCB Win
There’s no doubt that the RCB was able to assemble yet another strong lineup for the upcoming IPL. That includes some of the most talented overseas players today. Liam Livingstone was bought for Rs 8.75 crore. RCB’s middle order has sometimes struggled in the past, and he’s known to have an aggressive batting style and high strike rate that could help the team in the middle overs. Livingstone can also be an excellent backup for players like Kohli and Phil Salt.
Salt is another valuable purchase RCB made during the last auction. He was purchased for Es 11.50 crore, which could make him worth it because of his strike rate of 175.5, with 653 runs in 21 IPL matches, including six half-centuries under his belt.
For strengthening the team’s pace attack, Josh Hazlewood is another great addition, and he was purchased for Rs 12.50 crore. RCB has struggled with death bowling in past seasons. Hazlewood’s experience and skills in the death overs can significantly improve their bowling performance in the final stages of the game.
However, even if RCB is once again packed with talented players, many are still hesitant about them winning. Based on the latest odds and scores for the 2025 IPL on 10CRIC and other betting sites, RCB is currently tied as the 9th favorite to win the IPL 2025 season (odds of 9.00). This places them on par with teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.
Will Virat Kohli Be Captain?
Another significant matter that could impact RCB’s performance this season is the captain’s selection. Faf did well during his two years of captaincy, as he was able to lead the team to the playoffs. However, RCB decided not to retain him before the auction. RCB chose to prioritize retaining their core players, especially Virat Kohli.
While it hasn’t been officially announced whether Kohli will be RCB’s captain again, the rumors are strong on this one. Former RCB player AB de Villiers has always had solid insider info whenever talking about his former team, and recently, he spoke about Kohli being captain.
De Villiers said, “Friends, I think Virat Kohli is the only option [for RCB’s captaincy choice). He is near the end of his career, more inspired than ever before. Until he gets the form and score runs, we are used to watching him play match-winning innings. It’s like a swansong.”
He also went on about how Kohlu wants a fairytale finish before he leaves the franchise he’s been with for over a decade. He also believes that Kohli is the best choice to lead the team, especially with his leadership experience and unwavering commitment to the franchise’s pursuit of their maiden IPL title.
If Kohli doesn’t come back as captain, other great contenders for this label would be Rajat Patidar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Krunal Pandya. These players have solid backgrounds that could inspire the team to do great, even under pressure.
Summary
Even if RCB isn’t among the current favorites to win, supporters still hope they can end their title curse. India will host the 2025 TATA Indian Premier League, slated to take place from March 21 to May 25 and broadcast by Sky Sports and JioCinema (streaming app).
