Royal Challengers Bangalore Squad and Season Preview for IPL 2025

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are gearing up for another IPL season, hoping to build on their strong performance from last year. After finishing fourth in 2024 and making the playoffs, they are looking to go further in IPL 2025. With a balanced squad featuring experienced stars and exciting new additions, RCB fans and fantasy cricket players will have plenty to look forward to.

Full Squad for IPL 2025

RCB have put together a squad with talent across all departments:

Captain: Rajat Patidar
Batters: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara
Wicketkeeper-Batters: Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma
All-Rounders: Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh
Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee

RCB’s squad offers a strong mix of power hitters, all-rounders, and experienced bowlers. Fantasy cricket players will have plenty of choices when selecting their Dream 11 teams, especially with the presence of Kohli and Livingstone, who can be match-winners on their day.

Performance in IPL 2024

RCB had a solid campaign last season, finishing fourth in the standings. They made it to the playoffs but were eliminated in the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals. While they had a competitive squad, they couldn’t push past the knockout stage. The team will be eager to improve and challenge for the title this year.

Key Players to Watch

Virat Kohli: To no surprise, the franchise icon remains a crucial part of RCB. Last season, he was the team’s top run-scorer with 741 runs, proving his consistency at the top of the order. He’s shown his great form ahead of the new seasons setting a number of records while winning the ICC less than two weeks ago in Dubai.
Rajat Patidar: The newly appointed captain steps into a leadership role. His ability to stabilize the batting lineup and lead from the front will be key for RCB’s campaign.
Josh Hazlewood: A reliable fast bowler, Hazlewood’s ability to deliver in high-pressure situations makes him a crucial asset for RCB, especially in the death overs.
Phil Salt: A wicketkeeper-batter with explosive potential, Salt provides flexibility to the batting order and can be a game-changer in fantasy lineups.

RCB’s Title Odds for IPL 2025

Bookmakers have placed RCB among the top six contenders for the title, with odds of 9.00. While they are not the outright favorites, they remain strong challengers. Mumbai Indians (5.00), Sunrisers Hyderabad (5.50), and Chennai Super Kings (6.00) have better odds, but RCB has the squad depth to compete at the highest level.

Opening Match in IPL 2025

RCB will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The early betting odds favor KKR at 1.75, while RCB is at 2.05. A winning start against KKR could give the team early momentum for the rest of the tournament.

For fantasy cricket players, the first match is an opportunity to pick impact players. Kohli, Patidar, and Livingstone could be strong batting choices, while Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar remain solid bowling options. As RCB aims for their first IPL title, all eyes will be on their performance in the opening fixture.