Virat Kohli To Open With Phil Salt, David Replaces Will Jacks; RCB's Strongest XI For IPL 2025

Kohli and Salt to open [Source: @HustlerCSK/X.Com]

The IPL 2025 squads are filled as all the ten teams have built their core side for the next season. Some teams look strong on paper, while the others lack a cutting edge. One such team which has built an interesting team in the auction is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Before the auctions, the team had retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal, and had 83 crores in their bank to buy the players. The franchise made a couple of baffling decisions by not going hard after Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, but they bought their targets and will be confident heading into next season.

Hence, with the auction done and dusted, we look at RCB's strongest XI for next season.

Salt, Kohli to open for RCB

RCB did an excellent job of buying Phil Salt as their wicket-keeper. The English powerhouse was pivotal in KKR's title victory last season and will form the opening pair with the ever-reliable, ever dependant, Virat Kohli.

Salt can recreate what Chris Gayle used to do for RCB and could be the aggressor right from the start. This would allow Kohli to play his natural game.

Strong middle order with Patidar, Livingstone leading the line

For the first time in many years, RCB have a strong middle order core ahead of the next season. RCB invested heavily in Rajat Patidar and he will take the mantle at number 3, followed by Liam Livingstone and Tim David.

Jitesh Sharma will be the finisher of the team, and there is a reason RCB bought him for a hefty fee. For Punjab, he was a finisher and RCB will hope he can replicate the same duties for them at 6.

Hazlewood to take charge of RCB's bowling lineup

RCB have invested in their former seamer, Josh Hazlewood and he will lead their lineup in IPL 2025. Hazlewood is effective in both the powerplay and death overs and will have to take the mantle as he is the most experienced pacer of the team.

Alongside him, RCB's uncapped player, Yash Dayal and new buy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will take command of the pace attack. The three fast bowlers have different skills and RCB will hope they can work together to create magic.

RCB also bought KKR spinner, Suyash Sharma in the side and he will be the lone spinner as RCB begin their title charge.

RCB's strongest XI for IPL 2025

Virat Kohli (c)
Phil Salt (wk) ✈️
Rajat Patidar
Tim David ✈️
Liam Livingstone ✈️
Jitesh Sharma
Krunal Pandya
Suyash Sharma
Josh Hazlewood ✈️
Yash Dayal
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Swapnil Singh (Impact Player)

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