 "Royal Challengers Bengaluru have Rs 83 crore in auction purse after retaining three players including Virat Kohli. Image: PTI")
The stage is set for the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have made a striking move by retaining just three players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. Despite its enormous fan base and storied history, RCB remains one of the few teams yet to claim the IPL title.
Last season’s playoff berth, largely fueled by Kohli’s individual brilliance, ended short of the final. This year, RCB aims to break free from its reliance on a select few and build a more balanced squad. Armed with a substantial purse of Rs 83 crore, the franchise is poised to make a significant impact at the auction, shaking up the landscape in pursuit of their elusive first IPL championship.
RCB’s retention list:
- Virat Kohli – Rs 21 crore – Capped
Rajat Patidar – Rs 11 crore – Capped
Yash Dayal – Rs 4 crore – Uncapped
With just three key retentions and as much as Rs 83 crore auction purse remaining, RCB is banking on the auction to build the title-winning squad from scratch.
Thought process behind RCB’s retentions
RCB’s retention policy is straightforward. With Virat Kohli as their unique selling point (USP), his presence not only enhances the team’s profile but also serves as a significant draw for fans and sponsors alike. Kohli’s outstanding performance in IPL 2024, where he scored 479 runs at an impressive average of 61.75, also justifies his retention price.
Another player highly rated by the franchise is Rajat Patidar. He made his IPL debut for RCB in 2021 and gained attention by scoring an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2022 eliminator. Despite joining as a replacement player, he finished the 2022 season as the team’s third-highest run-scorer, amassing 333 runs at a strike rate of 152.75.
Yash Dayal was acquired by RCB for Rs 5 crore in the IPL 2024 auction after a bidding battle with Gujarat Titans. He justified this investment by taking 14 wickets during the season with an impressive economy rate of 9.15, especially considering the dimensions of RCB’s home venue, Chinnaswamy Stadium. Retaining him for Rs 4 crore is a win-win situation for the franchise.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsRCB’s possible auction strategy
RCB have the budget to explore a wide range of options in the upcoming auction. They can target quality Indian wicketkeeper-batting options like KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant, as well as sought-after bowlers such as Trent Boult and their former player, Yuzvendra Chahal. Additionally, with three Right to Match (RTM) cards at their disposal, they can strategically repurchase key players like Mohammed Siraj.
Among the overseas batting options, RCB could consider players like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Will Jacks, Rachin Ravindra, and Cameron Green, all of whom could strengthen their line-up.
Players RCB could target in mega auction
All-rounders: Rachin Ravindra, Cameron Green
Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jonny Bairstow, Jitesh Sharma
Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Will Jacks, Jos Buttler, Harry Brooks, Jake Fraser-McGurk
Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Trent Boult, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal