Royal Challengers Bengaluru At IPL 2025: Preview, Squad, Fixtures – RCB Indian Premier League SWOT Analysis – Outlook India

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Cricket
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will kick off their Indian Premier League 2025 season on March 22 against Kolkata Knight Riders, featuring a revamped squad and renewed hopes. Here’s a SWOT analysis of the team ahead of the game
AAAR CEEE BEEE! Here they go again! The Royal Challengers Bangaluru are back in action and ready to chase their first-ever Indian Premier League title! They’ll kick off their 2025 campaign with a clash against the defending champions,, Kolkata Knight Riders, on March 22 at Eden Gardens. (More Cricket News)
Their journey to the playoffs last year was nothing short of blockbuster! From losing six matches in a row to winning six straight, RCB kept the “E sala cup namde” chant alive for longer than anyone expected. But the voices fell silent after their 4-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals in the playoffs. However, how long will that silence last? Once again, the chants are louder than ever this year, especially with some game-changing shuffle in their Virat Kohli-studded squad.
On Day 1 of the IPL 2025 auction, the franchise’s owner Prathmesh Mishra, director Mo Bobat, really frustrated fans. Not only did they part ways with Mohammed Siraj, but had left with a Rs 30.65 crore purse by the end of the day, while all the big fish swam away to other teams.
However, on the second day, the franchise made some bombastic moves that shut down all the critics. They secured Bhuvneshwar Kumar for INR 10.75 crore, adding a seasoned pace attack to their squad. They also picked up Krunal Pandya for INR 5.75 crore, strengthening their spin-bowling department.
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee
"𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺! 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘚𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢… pic.twitter.com/EEcr9vFqhL
This time, with the experienced finisher Dinesh Karthik as coach and Rajat Patidar taking over as captain, how will the Bengaluru-based team shape up? Here’s the analysis
Strengths:
RCB boasts a powerful top order with Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, and Rajat Patidar, offering a balanced mixture of experience, aggression, and versatility, making it a formidable force at the crease. There comes a strong middle orderas well, featuring Liam Livingstone and Tim David ensuring some late magic.
Moreover, RCB’s Thir pace attack, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Lungi Ngidi, is versatile and formidable, while all-rounders like Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd add balance to the squad.
Weakness:
Despite the formidable strength of RCB’s squad, a glaring weakness remains in their spin department. While they’ve invested in players like Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, the absence of a world-class spinner could limit their effectiveness, especially on turning tracks where spin bowlers often dominate.
Opportunities:
The first big opportunity for RCB in IPL 2025 is to finally claim that coveted silverware! While RCB’s women’s team earned it last year in the Women’s Premier League 2024-25, they were knocked out in the 2025 edition. Now, the focus shifts to the men’s side. The season also offers exciting opportunities for emerging talents like Suyash Sharma and Jacob Bethell, who could become future stars for the team.
The Young England all-rounder Bethell has arrived in Bengaluru, putting an end to speculation about his availability following an injury.
Threats:
RCB’s limited squad depth is a major concern. While they boast a strong starting XI, injuries to key players could derail their campaign. Additionally, the intense pressure from their loyal fanbase could affect player performances, making it crucial to manage expectations effectively.
With Rajat Patidar stepping in as the new captain, he will need to manage the weight of their loyal and passionate fanbase’s expectations and hopes.
Check the full list of skippers and coaches ahead of IPL 2025 HERE.
March 22, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
March 28, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
April 2, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
April 7, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
April 10, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
April 13, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
April 18, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
April 20, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
April 24, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
April 27, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
May 3, 2025: RCB vs Chennai Super Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
May 9, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
May 13, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
May 17, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
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