Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

For a team synonymous with near-misses and fervent fan expectations, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enter IPL 2025 with a refreshed identity, marked by the appointment of Rajat Patidar as captain — a break from their tradition of typically leaning on established international stars. “Virat doesn’t need a captaincy title to lead,” Director of Cricket Mo Bobat noted, nodding to Kohli’s enduring influence while signalling trust in Patidar to helm a reimagined squad.

In this analysis, we dive deep into the team’s composition, exploring the strengths that could propel them to glory and the weaknesses that might hold them back.

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RCB Possible XII

1. Virat Kohli, 2. Phil Salt (OS), 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Rajat Patidar (c), 5. Liam Livingstone (OS), 6. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7. Tim David (OS), 8. Krunal Pandya, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Suyash Sharma, 11. Yash Dayal/Rasikh Dar, 12. Josh Hazlewood (OS)

Unlike the RCB of old, which often banked on mega-stars, this lineup prioritises low-profile yet valuable, role-specific acquisitions. Kohli, Patidar, Padikkal, Jitesh, Krunal, and Bhuvneshwar form a robust domestic core, while Salt, Livingstone, David, and Hazlewood slot into defined roles: opener, middle-order pace power-hitter, finisher, and pace spearhead. Depth stretches to No. 8 with Krunal, a luxury RCB rarely boasted in the past.

Batting Analysis: Strength with a Spin Hinge

The batting order leans heavily right-handed, with Padikkal as the lone left-hander in the top seven. This homogeneity could pose challenges against spin, especially in the middle overs (7-16), where hitting against left-arm spin and leg-spin remains heavily reliant on Patidar. Much like last season, he was the standout performer in this phase, scoring 156 runs (the highest) at an average of 78 and a strike rate of 219.72 (the highest for a minimum of 25 balls faced).

Padikkal might not be the most talked-about player in RCB’s setup, but his role at No. 3 could be quietly pivotal. His long levers and ability to attack in-spin on good batting tracks could make him an underrated asset in the middle overs.

At the top, Phil Salt brings proven T20 pedigree, with 2,862 runs since 2023 at a strike rate of 162.06 — fifth-highest globally in that period. Though his recent form has been patchy, the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s batting-friendly conditions could be the ideal stage for a resurgence.

Further down, the retirement of Dinesh Karthik has prompted RCB to bolster their lower middle-order with power-hitters like Livingstone (IPL strike rate of 200 against pace, the highest for a minimum of 125 balls faced) and Tim David (206.88 strike rate in overs 17-20 since 2022, third-highest for a minimum of 100 balls faced). Krunal Pandya at No. 8 adds enviable depth while doubling as a reliable defensive spin-bowling option, well-suited to Chinnaswamy’s conditions.

Bowling Analysis: Repair with Rough Edges

RCB’s bowling, long a weak link, shows tangible signs of repair. Last season, their spinners struggled, posting the second-worst economy (10.10) and average (41.07) in the league. In an attempt to bolster this department, besides Krunal, they have brought in Suyash Sharma, a promising young wrist-spinner. Liam Livingstone’s versatility to bowl both off-spin or leg-spin further enhances their match-up options.

The pace unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, excels with the new ball. Even Yash Dayal, one of the three players retained ahead of the mega auction, is at his best in the Powerplay. However, this overlap could create an over-distribution issue, as all three are most effective early on. Their impact wanes as the ball loses movement, particularly in the case of Bhuvneshwar and Dayal.

If all three play, it may not be ideal for Hazlewood individually, but from a team perspective, his role could be optimised: bowling an over in the 5-6 phase to seal the Powerplay, using his hit-the-deck skills in the middle overs when required, and returning at the death to close out the innings. Given this structure, it wouldn’t be surprising if the curator leaves some grass on the pitch, allowing for conditions that assist new-ball movement at the Chinnaswamy this season.

This same overlap, however, underscores why Rasikh Salam, snapped up for a hefty ₹6 crore as the priciest uncapped buy, might edge out Dayal in the playing XII. He operates more post-powerplay, and with his potent back-of-the-hand slower ball, improved variations, and pace, also adds value in the death overs, allowing RCB to frontload Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his best phase and maintain balance across the innings.

Another option could be to field all four seamers and rely on Livingstone as the second spinner, though that seems unlikely.

Death bowling may be a concern, but that’s a challenge for most teams — barring perhaps the Mumbai Indians, who have the luxury of Jasprit Bumrah. On a relative scale, RCB might just hold up fine. While not flawless, their options are at least serviceable.

Tactical Flexibility: Options in the Arsenal

One intriguing option involves swapping Tim David for Jacob Bethell — a left-hander whose spin-hitting strengthens the middle overs — and replacing Padikkal with Manoj Bhandage down the order. This helps balance the top seven’s right-hand-heavy makeup, with Bethell easing Patidar’s workload while also contributing left-arm spin, while Bhandage’s Maharaja Trophy form — 292 runs at a 213.13 strike rate in 2024, plus handy medium pace — brings lower-order punch. His ball-striking prowess, showcased below, signals danger, though it comes at the cost of David’s proven finishing muscle.

Within the XII, RCB could also tweak their batting order. Though Liam Livingstone is slated for No. 5 with Jitesh Sharma at No. 6, context permitting, swapping them makes strategic sense. Livingstone’s primary role should be to take responsibility towards the end of the innings and dominate pace. His record against spin isn’t the best anyway, while Jitesh, at this stage of his career, has a shaky base against pace and can be restricted by top fast bowlers. He would likely add more value in the middle overs against spin than Livingstone.

Beyond the playing XII, Romario Shepherd offers a lower-order power-hitting alternative to Tim David while adding a seam-bowling option. Swastik Chikara provides a domestic right-handed middle-order reinforcement if the team requires. Nuwan Thushara, with his slingy action, serves as an overseas pace backup for Hazlewood.

Conclusion: A Dream on the Brink

RCB’s 2025 squad, a deeper and smarter unit, carries the weight of a million hopes. Spin hiccups and death overs still sting, but the Chinnaswamy faithful never waver. This XII has playoff pedigree; Patidar’s resolve could turn it into more.