IPL 2025: RCB Best Predicted Playing XI

IPL 2025 is here, with less than 15 days remaining for the inaugural match. The upcoming 18th edition of the Indian Premier League is expected to be very exciting, given the significant overhaul of all 10 teams after the mega auction in December last year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The inaugural match of the upcoming IPL 2025 will be played between the defending Champions, Kolkata Knight Rider, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 22nd March at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This article will discuss RCB's best-playing XI for the upcoming IPL 2025.

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted Playing XI

Position	Player	Role
1	Virat Kohli	Batter
2	Phil Salt	Wicketkeeper-Batter
3	Rajat Patidar (C)	Batter
4	Liam Livingstone	All-rounder
5	Jitesh Sharma	Wicketkeeper-Batter
6	Tim David	All-rounder
7	Krunal Pandya	All-rounder
8	Bhuvneshwar Kumar	Bowler
9	Josh Hazlewood	Bowler
10	Yash Dayal	Bowler
11	Suyash Sharma	Bowler

 

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the former captain of RCB and the highest run-scorer in the Indian Premier League, as well as a two-time Orange Cap winner, will be a key player for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season. With the transition of captaincy to Rajat Patidar, he will also guide him in crucial decisions. Being the only player in IPL history to have played for a single team, Virat Kohli will once again don the blue and red on March 22nd.

 

Phil Salt(WK)

Phil Salt, an explosive English wicketkeeper-batter, has joined one of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League. RCB acquired him in the IPL 2025 mega auction for 11.5 Crore. Since making his IPL debut in 2023, Phil has scored 653 runs in 21 matches at an impressive strike rate of 175.54.

 

Rajat Patidar(C)

After performing well for the team in the recent seasons and following Faf Du Plessis’ departure, RCB’s management finally announced Rajat Patidar as their new captain. Patidar will be leading the RCB after great players like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Daniell Vittori, Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis. On getting the responsibility of one of the biggest franchises in the IPL, Patidar's stature has increased, and he will be watched closely by cricket fans around the world in the upcoming season. In 27 matches played so fa,r Patidar scored 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85.

 

Liam Livingstone

Star English all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who is well known for hitting long sixes, was acquired by RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction. After making his debut in 2019, Livingstone played for Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, scoring 939 runs at a strike rate of 162.58 and taking 11 wickets in 38 matches.

 

Jitesh Sharma 

Jitesh Sharma, a young Indian wicketkeeper known for his hitting abilities in the middle order, was acquired by RCB at a shocking price of 11 crore. Making his debut in 2022, Jitesh played 40 matches, scoring 7 runs on an average of 30 with a strike rate of 151.14.

 

Tim David

Tim David, a Sinaporian-Australian big-hitting all-rounder, will play for RCB in the IPL 2025 season. Since making its debut in 2021 with Mumbai Indians, the team has played 38 matches, scoring 659 runs at a strike rate of 170.28.

 

Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya, after playing for the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in the last 10 years, will now don RCB’s colors after the team acquired him for 5.75 Crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. In the 127 matches played so far, he has scored 1647 runs at a strike rate of 132.82 while also taking 76 wickets with an economy of 7.37.

 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the right medium pacer known as the ‘King of Swing,’ will be a key player in strengthening RCB’s bowling attack. In the 176 matches played so far, he has taken 181 wickets at an economy rate of 7.56.

 

Josh Hazelwood

The star Australian pacer Josh Hazelwood will once again be seen in Royal Challengers Bengaluru after the team acquired him back despite releasing him before the mega auction. In the 12 matches played so far, he has taken 12 wickets with an economy of 7.93.

 

Yash Dayal

Yash Dayal, after making an impressive comeback in the IPL 2024 season, was retained by RCB as an uncapped player before the IPL 2025 mega auction. He will be a key pacer alongside Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In the 28 matches played over the last three seasons, he has taken 28 wickets with an economy of 9.57.

 

Suyash Sharma

RCB, who has a weak spin attack this season, will have Suyash Sharma as the main spinner in the playing XI alongside Krunal Pandya. In the 13 matches played over the last two seasons, he has taken 10 wickets with an economy of 8.65.

 

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Sqaud For the IPL 2025

Role	Players
Batters	Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara
All-rounders	Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell
Wicketkeepers	Jitesh Sharma
Bowlers	Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi
Others	Manoj Bhandage, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee

 

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Schedule For the IPL 2025

Date	Match	Time	Venue
March 22	KKR vs RCB	7:30 PM	Kolkata
March 28	CSK vs RCB	7:30 PM	Chennai
April 2	RCB vs GT	7:30 PM	Bengaluru
April 7	MI vs RCB	7:30 PM	Mumbai
April 10	RCB vs DC	7:30 PM	Bengaluru
April 13	RR vs RCB	3:30 PM	Jaipur
April 18	RCB vs PBKS	7:30 PM	Bengaluru
April 20	PBKS vs RCB	3:30 PM	Mullanpur
April 24	RCB vs RR	7:30 PM	Bengaluru
April 27	DC vs RCB	7:30 PM	Delhi
May 3	RCB vs CSK	7:30 PM	Bengaluru
May 9	LSG vs RCB	7:30 PM	Lucknow
May 13	RCB vs SRH	7:30 PM	Bengaluru
May 17	RCB vs KKR	7:30 PM	Bengaluru

 

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Home Matches Ticket Prices

Seating Category	Price Range (INR)
General Stand	500 - 1,000
Lower Tier	1,000 - 5,000
Upper Tier	3,000 - 8,000
Premium Seats	6,000 - 15,000
Corporate Box	15,000+

 

Also Read: WPL 2025 Points Table: Updated Standings After RCB W vs UP W Match