Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a super comeback in the second half of the IPL 2024 to secure a place in the playoffs, but it failed to get the better of Rajasthan Royals in the eliminator match played in Ahmedabad and got knocked out of the tournament. After failing to end the long wait for the first-ever IPL title in 2024, the Bengaluru-based franchise would like to come up with a big show in the 2025 season and go all the way.
But ahead of the 18th edition of the IPL, RCB will have to make the tough decision of keeping only a selected bunch of players and releasing the rest for the mega auction. It won’t be an easy job, as RCB had many quality players in their ranks in the 2024 season.
Here’s a look at five players RCB can retain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru on April 18, 2008, and has been associated with them since then. The former India captain is the all-time leading run scorer in IPL history and is the only player to play in all editions of the cash-rich league for one team. He finished as the highest run scorer in IPL 2024 and is all set to be retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
Will Jacks: Will Jacks made his IPL debut for RCB in the 2024 edition of the world’s richest franchise cricket league and, during the match against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium, scored a century in just 41 balls. The English all-rounder is just 25 years old and can be a key player for the franchise in the future. Apart from his destructive batting at the top of the order, Jacks is a handy spinner who can bowl in the powerplay as well.
Mohammed Siraj: Mohammed Siraj led RCB’s pace attack in IPL 2024, and the 30-year-old is one of the best pacers of present times. RCB has shown a lot of faith in his abilities in the last few seasons of the IPL, and he is likely to be retained by the franchise.
Faf du Plessis: Faf du Plessis led RCB in the last three seasons of the IPL, and under his leadership, RCB twice managed to qualify for the playoffs. Even though the former South African skipper will be close to 41 next year, his form in the IPL 2024 and Major League Cricket (MLC) has indicated that there is still a lot of cricket left in him, and it won’t be a surprise if the Bengaluru-based franchise retains him.
Rajat Patidar: Rajat Patidar was in red-hot form for RCB in IPL 2024. In 15 matches for the Faf du Plessis-led side, the right-handed batter from Madhya Pradesh, who made his Indian debut last year, scored 395 runs with a strike rate of 177.13. The right-handed batter was the X-factor for RCB in the middle order, and with his attacking batting, he has made a case for retention.
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