RCB have reached the IPL Final for the first time since 2016.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are enjoying a dream campaign in this season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). After a sensational win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), RCB ended the league stage in the second position of the points table. They then beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 to reach the IPL Final for the first time in nine years. That agonising match in 2016 was held at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. It had all the makings of a fairytale finish, but they fell short by the narrowest of margins, suffering a heartbreaking defeat.
Now, as they prepare to step onto the field for the IPL 2025 final on June 3 in Ahmedabad, hopes are high. But before they chase glory, there are several talking points the team needs to address.
All-rounder Tim David succumbed to a hamstring pull during RCB’s second-last league fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He didn’t feature in RCB’s next two games against LSG and PBKS. While reaching Ahmedabad for the summit clash on June 3, David was seen limping on the airport premises. Hamstring pulls usually take longer to heal. However, his absence from the last clash may be just a precaution to keep him fully fit for the final.
In nine innings with the bat, the Aussie star has been an enforcer for RCB, collecting 187 runs at a strike rate of 185.14. Though he has made just one fifty, he has played crucial cameos down the order to save RCB from close losses. He is yet to bowl in the league.
The English all-rounder has been in abysmal form this season. Liam Livingstone has played nine games for RCB so far. In his seven outings with the bat, Livi has collected just 87 runs. He has been dismissed twice for a duck and twice on single-digit scores. Moreover, his top score of 54 came in a losing cause against the Gujarat Titans. With the balls, Livi has taken only two wickets.
Poor form may rule Livingstone out of the RCB Playing 11 for the IPL 2025 Final. If Tim David is fit to play, Livingstone will be replaced. If not, Manoj Bhandage may get another chance.
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Another tough decision for RCB to make would be who will walk in after the first wicket falls. However, the franchise would like to stick to the basics and avoid making too many changes for the pressure-packed match. Skipper Rajat Patidar has a strike rate of 165.21 at No.4, which drops to 145.40 at No.3 in IPL matches. With similar averages at both positions, Patidar is likely to retain the No. 4 spot, as he did so with Devdutt Padikkal in the mix.
Mayank Agarwal is expected to continue batting at No.3, just as he did in Qualifier 1. Monk has managed only 24 runs from four innings at No.4, while the Bengaluru batter has scored 525 runs in 26 IPL outings at the No.3 position. He will look to maintain his solid form from that familiar spot.
Reportedly, Phil Salt is expecting a baby. With just three more days to go, the English opener’s presence in the playing XI is uncertain. Salt has been RCB’s aggressor at the top. Opening the innings alongside Virat Kohli, Salt has made 387 runs in 12 innings. His average of 35.18 and strike rate of 175.90 have helped RCB with strong starts. In the process, Salt has made four half-centuries.
When he missed two matches due to the flu, his national teammate Jacob Bethell took the responsibility. However, Bethell is now off to national duties. If Salt misses the summit clash, RCB may hand a debut to Tim Seifert.
Nuwan Thushara was added to the RCB Playing 11 after Lungi Ngidi’s departure to England for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. Though Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani was announced as Ngidi’s replacement, the Sri Lankan pacer got a chance against LSG. His spell of 1/26 in a high-scoring clash was quite impressive.
The discussions at the RCB HQ may sound something like, Thushara will be used as an extra bowler while Bhandage may get a chance in place of an overseas all-rounder. However, if David is fit, the overseas mix will then include Salt, Romario Shepherd, and Josh Hazlewood.
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