Which Players will RCB Target in IPL 2025 Auction with INR 83 Crore Purse? Analysing Full Royal Challengers Bengaluru Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have retained three players before the IPL 2025 auction. They have spent INR 37 crores and have INR 83 crores to work with during the auction. Before delving into RCB’s strategy for the auction, let’s analyse each player they have retained and their expertise.

1. Virat Kohli: An ideal T20 anchor, Virat Kohli is an opener with a high-class ability to take down pacers at will. His refreshing approach now helps him start quickly and maximise the powerplay. He can also weave a long knock and play till the end at a suitable rate if required.
2. Rajat Patidar: Rajat Patidar is among the best spin-hitters in the competition and can bat consistently at a high rate. Further, his game vs pace is also more than decent, for he does not have glaring issues. He can be flexible in the middle order, making him a suitable batter for the shortest format.
3. Yash Dayal: Yash Dayal is a powerplay specialist, who provides decent value in other phases. His recent rise in death overs makes him a valuable asset. He also brings a different angle, giving variety to the bowling attack.

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Right now, this is how Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Playing XI is set up:

1. Virat Kohli
2. ________________
3. ________________
4. Rajat Patidar
5. ________________
6. ________________
7. ________________
8. ________________
9. ________________
10.  Yash Dayal
11. ________________

Now that it’s clear where the voids are, we can explore how Royal Challengers Bengaluru might go about their business in the IPL 2025 Auction.

What do Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) require in the IPL 2025 auction?

Role No.1 – An opener, preferably a LHB and should be prolific vs spin; bonus if he is a Wicket-keeper

1. Devon Conway: Devon Conway is everything RCB require at the top. A prolific player of spin, Conway brings in his LHB dimension and keeps the wickets. He can bat at different gears, and the wicketkeeping problem is also solved.
2. Jonny Bairstow: While not an LHB, Jonny Bairstow is another decent fit in RCB’s setup, even though his recent returns have declined. He is a solid player of pace and spin and can take the aggressive route. Further, he is also a wicketkeeper.
3. David Warner: David Warner is among the finest IPL batters, but his recent slump might be a concern. Still, if RCB don’t get their first-choice player, they can opt for a budget pick. At his peak, Warner is among the finest players of spin and will thrive on flat Bengaluru decks.
4. Rachin Ravindra: Rachin Ravindra is another perfect fit for RCB. His spin game has improved massively and is pretty solid against pace as well. He will enjoy playing in Bengaluru.
5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Rahmanullah Gurbaz is an ideal powerplay aggressor. He is pretty good vs pace and has worked on his spin game as well. He also keeps the wickets.
6. Ben Duckett: Ben Duckett might be a budget pick for RCB. He is a high-intent batter who handles spin well and is also really good vs pace. He doesn’t provide the wicketkeeping option but ticks other boxes brilliantly.

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Role No.2 – A spin-hitter for No.3 or 4 who is decent vs pace as well and some bowling value is a bonus

1. Will Jacks: Will Jacks performed this role brilliantly last year. He handles pace and spin well and can bat at the required gear. He also bowls decent off-spin.
2. Nitish Rana: Nitish Rana might fit perfectly in the RCB setup, given his superior skillsets vs spin in the middle overs. He saves an overseas slot and also bowls off-spin. Being an LHB, he also provides a different dimension to the batting unit.
3. Nehal Wadhera: Nehal Wadhera is probably among the finest options in this section. He is excellent against pace and spin and also brings in the LHB dimension. Further, he will be a long-term investment, and RCB have the budget to go hard for him.
4. Rilee Rossouw: Rilee Rossouw is another decent fit. While he doesn’t provide bowling value, Rossouw is skilful against pace and spin and can be flexible with his batting position. He also brings an LHB dimension.
5. Moeen Ali: Despite his recent decline, Moeen Ali still has a lot to offer. He can counter all spin types and is also decent against non-short-length deliveries. Brings an LHB dimension and also bowls off-spin.
6. Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas Iyer is another skilled batter vs spin, and his game vs pace is also decent, barring hard lengths and short-length deliveries. He also brings in leadership value and can be RCB’s captain if required. Iyer should not be the priority since he is not an LHB or gives a bowling option, but RCB can opt for him if they don’t get other options.
7. Mahipal Lomror: Unfortunately, RCB didn’t use Mahipal Lomror precisely in the previous cycle, but he has a lot to offer. He has a good game vs spin and is more than capable vs pace as well. He also bowls useful left-arm spin, and his recent form has been great.

Role No.3 – Pace-hitters for No.5 and No.6

1. KL Rahul: KL Rahul might finally get a new role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru and bat in the middle order. He is solid vs pace and spin and has done well in this role in ODIs. He also gives leadership and wicketkeeping options.
2. Tim David: Tim David will fit perfectly in RCB’s setup. He is excellent vs non-shorter-length balls and also decent vs spin, making him an ideal No.5. He will thrive on Chinnaswamy decks.
3. David Miller: The good thing is that RCB have all the money required to rope in David Miller, who might fetch a handsome amount in the auction. He is supreme vs pace and decent vs spin. He also brings an LHB dimension and is a proven performer in the league.
4. Sherfane Rutherford: The recent rise of Sherfane Rutherford should be enough to bring him in. He is powerful vs pace and has done well almost everywhere. He brings an LHB dimension and is also flexible with his batting position.
5. Liam Livingstone: Liam Livingstone is another powerful striker who can also bowl useful off-spin and leg-spin. RCB have the budget to go hard after him. He can also be flexible with his batting position.
6. Vishnu Vinod: Vishnu Vinod offers dual value, for he is powerful vs pace and does wicketkeeping. He showed his power in patches previously in the league, and his recent rise must have grabbed eyeballs. He will also be a budget pick.
7. Romario Shepherd: Romario Shepherd will fit perfectly in RCB’s setup. He can hit pacers at will, and his range hitting has improved massively. He also bowls useful medium-pace and can bowl hard lengths at will.

Role No.4 – A finger spinner with some batting value

1. Washington Sundar: Washington Sundar might be the best fit in this category. He bowls useful off-spin and can bowl in the powerplay as a matchup option. His batting has improved massively.
2. Harpreet Brar: Among the finest defensive spinners in the country, Harpreet Brar should be RCB’s prime target if they don’t get Sundar. Harpreet knows how to bowl tight lines and can consistently give four overs. There is also decent batting value.
3. Krunal Pandya: Krunal Pandya’s price won’t surge as high, and this is an area RCB might not want to spend a high amount on. So, they can opt for Krunal, who provides decent value with both bat and ball. He also has vast experience.
4. Akeal Hosein: Akeal Hosein is among the best defensive spinners in the world. He has performed consistently and will be effective against hard hitters due to his improved variations. He is also a more than handy batter.
5. Keshav Maharaj: Keshav Maharaj is at his peak as a white-ball bowler. He is equally effective against RHBs and LHBs and has bowling smarts. He can also bat a bit.
6. Shahbaz Ahmed: Shahbaz Ahmed is another budget pick. He bowls defensive lines and can be decent as a bowler. His batting is also encouraging.

Role No.5 – A wrist spinner who is a genuine wicket-taker

1. Yuzvendra Chahal: Yuzvendra Chahal might reunite with RCB. Chahal is the biggest wicket-taker in the league and has proved his mettle on short grounds like Chinnaswamy. He has vast experience playing in the league.
2. Noor Ahmad: Noor Ahmad has all the qualities to be a permanent in the league. He has a range of variations and a knack for picking wickets. RCB should go hard for him if they don’t get Chahal.
3. Maheesh Theekshana: Maheesh Theekshana is another wicket-taker who can bring consistent wickets in the middle overs. He has honed his skills and knows how to operate effectively against big-hitters. He might not get a big sum, so RCB can get him a decent price.
4. Mayank Markande: Mayank Markande might not be as consistent, but RCB can look for him if their budget doesn’t allow other picks. He will be in the 12th set when the likes of Chahal and Noor will be sold. He can also be a backup.
5. Suyash Sharma: Suyash Sharma has all the qualities to be a genuine wicket-taker in the league. He bowls at a high pace and will be a long-term investment. Even if they get Chahal, RCB can try Suyash as a backup.

Role No.6 – A middle-over enforcer who can also bowl in death overs

Note: It is a role where RCB should give priority and should get the best available. So, we have curated only the best for this role.

1. Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan might be among the best options for this role. Avesh is a genuine hit-the-deck pacer who can bowl at a high pace and generate additional bounce. He also has decent control over his yorkers and slower balls.
2. Prasidh Krishna: A local boy, Prasidh Krishna is another hit-the-deck pacer who is an ideal enforcer. He can generate extra bounce and push batters off the backfoot. His death-over credentials aren’t great, but he will improve and is a talent worth investing in.
3. Josh Hazlewood: Josh Hazlewood provides ample value in the powerplay and middle overs. His presence will solve RCB’s powerplay issues, given they also have Yash Dayal. Further, he can crank it up and bowl back-of-the-length deliveries consistently into the body.
4. Simarjeet Singh: A player with massive potential, Simarjeet Singh has the pace to agitate the batters with his hard lengths. He is skiddy and zooms on the stumps, which is required in the middle overs. He can be a long-term investment.
5. Kuldeep Sen: Among the finest hit-the-deck bowlers in the country, Kuldeep Sen has the pace and capability to bowl shorter-length deliveries consistently. Further, he has shown enough accuracy to be a decent death-over bowler. The only concern is his injury issues.
6. Yash Thakur: The main reason for including Yash Thakur is his death-over credentials. He can bowl at pace and has shown enough accuracy to be a solid non-powerplay-overs operator. He will improve from here on.

No.7 – A death-overs specialist

Note: Another area where RCB should invest a handsome amount.

1. Mohammed Shami: Despite his injury issues and everything, Mohammed Shami is still among the better bets for death overs. He can also bowl effectively in the powerplay and middle overs, so he is an all-round option. RCB should try getting him.
2. T Natarajan: T Natarajan is among the finest death-over bowlers in the competition. He has ample control over his yorkers and has also generated decent slower balls. This area has been an issue, and RCB should get him.
3. Harshal Patel: Harshal Patel is vulnerable at times but is still among the best bets. He has a range of slower balls, which he mixes well to construct his over. He also has experience playing in Bengaluru.
4. Mohammed Siraj: RCB let Mohammed Siraj go, but like Shami, he has vast experience and is among the best options available. He can operate effectively in other phases as well. RCB should get him if they don’t get one of the other three options.
5. Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep Singh provides everything. He can swing the new ball but has shown serious control over his yorkers. His presence will solve powerplay and death-over issues for RCB.
6. Nathan Ellis: Nathan Ellis is among the elite T20 bowlers but didn’t get many opportunities for PBKS. However, RCB should try getting him, given he has plenty of variations and is a proven performer in other leagues and for Australia. He might get a high amount, and RCB should seal him.
7. Mustafizur Rahman: A slightly risky option, but Mustafizur Rahman is still among the best options available. He has different types of cutters and bowls decent yorkers. He can also bowl in the powerplay and middle overs and give encouraging returns.

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