Priyanka Tiwari
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A new chapter begins for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2025 as Rajat Patidar takes over the captaincy. With big shoes to fill, Patidar’s leadership will be closely scrutinized, especially given RCB's historical struggles at their home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Known for its high-scoring nature and short boundaries, it has been a challenge to build a balanced bowling attack, as reflected in RCB’s home win percentage of 44.12% since 2017—the lowest in the tournament.
Strengthening the Squad: A Balanced Approach?
RCB’s squad for IPL 2025 has seen significant changes, with a mix of experienced campaigners and fresh faces. The inclusion of Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Josh Hazlewood bolsters their bowling attack, while Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell bring firepower to the batting lineup. The key challenge will be how these players adapt to the Chinnaswamy conditions.
RCB’s IPL 2025 Full Squad
- Captain: Rajat Patidar
- Batsmen: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone
- Wicketkeeper: Jitesh Sharma
- All-rounders: Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh, Mohit Rathee
- Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh
Projected Best XI for IPL 2025
- Phil Salt
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (C)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma (WK)
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal/Suyash Sharma/Rasikh Dar Salam
Key Players to Watch Out For
Devdutt Padikkal – A Point to Prove
Once a rising star from Karnataka, Padikkal has struggled in recent seasons, particularly when batting outside the powerplay. However, IPL 2025 offers him a prime opportunity to cement his place in the top order and regain his lost form.
Rasikh Dar Salam – A Breakout Candidate
After making an impact with Delhi Capitals last season, Rasikh Dar joins RCB, where even small contributions on a high-scoring ground could help him stand out. His ability to perform in pressure situations at Chinnaswamy will be closely watched.
Potential Challenges for RCB
Josh Hazlewood’s Fitness a Concern
Having spent significant time on the sidelines due to injuries, Josh Hazlewood's fitness could impact RCB’s bowling plans. While they have backups in Lungi Ngidi and Nuwan Thushara, RCB will prefer having Hazlewood available as their lead pacer.
Spin Bowling Woes at Chinnaswamy
Across the last two seasons, RCB has bowled the fewest overs of spin (29.1%) and has been the most expensive at the venue. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has been the second most expensive venue for spinners (ER 9.24), just behind Hyderabad (ER 9.26).
The addition of Krunal Pandya (economy rate of 7.25 at Chinnaswamy) and Suyash Sharma could help RCB improve these numbers and bring balance to their bowling attack.
RCB’s Fixture Build-up and Run-in
RCB starts IPL 2025 with two away games before playing their first home match. The crucial aspect of their season will be finishing the league stages with two home games, giving them the advantage of understanding net run rate (NRR) scenarios better than their opponents.
Can RCB Finally Overcome the Chinnaswamy Challenge?
RCB’s new-look squad is promising, but whether they can overcome their long-standing home-ground struggles remains to be seen. With Patidar’s leadership, a strong batting lineup, and an improved bowling attack, RCB fans will hope that IPL 2025 marks a turnaround season for their franchise.
Read More: KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025: Live Streaming Details and Match Preview
