IPL 2025: 3 Areas Where RCB Improved During The Mega Auction
Virat Kohli For RCB [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru command one of the biggest fanbases in the Indian Premier League. Despite this they have not laid their hands on the coveted trophy in 17 years. One of the most popular notions among the spectators and neutral followers of IPL regarding RCB has been that they lose half the battle in the auction table.
While there have been problems for the franchise in their selection of players in the IPL auction, the management seems to have put in a lot of thinking and effort during the latest auction. The RCB side of IPL 2025 looks much more balanced and well rounded. Let us try and analyse the areas they improved on during the latest event.
Before looking at the improved points, we need to see the areas where they have lacked in the previous seasons -
What Went Wrong For RCB In Previous IPL Auctions?
Loading Team With Top Order Batters - RCB have often boasted about the presence of batters like Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh and many others along with their all time hero and the India great Virat Kohli. However, the biggest problem with them has been that their fire power ended in the top four. There was no one to absorb the pressure for them in the middle or lower middle-order.
Chris Gayle have been a legend for RCB [Source: @Vipintiwari952/x.com]
Less Stress On Bowling Department - The Royal Challengers Bengaluru play half of their games each season one of the most batting friendly decks in India, the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. Looking at the flatness of the pitch, they have often overlooked their bowlers and that has made them suffer during the season. The fact that they need to stress on acquiring the services of a death over specialist or proper bowlers to support their main bowler has often skipped their strategy.
What Went Right For RCB In IPL 2025 Auction?
Overall Batting Strength - During the IPL 2025 auction, the RCB management put in special effort to secure batters for the whole line-up. While they added firepower at the top with Phil Salt, they did not miss out on adding strength in the middle order by recruiting players like Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar For RCB [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]
Overall Bowling Strength - RCB have done a brilliant job in securing two lead bowlers one Indian and one overseas. They have sorted this out by getting Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. But even in the best of seasons, they would not have looked past this. However, this year they have recruited players like Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma and even Romario Shepherd who can bowl around them.
Quality Indian Recruit - This time RCB have also shown special care in recruitment of their Indian talents. With players like Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal and Manoj Bhandage they have built a quality Indian core that will help them sustain success and go for glory in their near future.