Virat Kohli To Open, Krunal Pandya At 4? RCB's Probable Playing XI For IPL 2025

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Last Updated:March 18, 2025, 21:55 IST

Rajat Patidar will lead RCB in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League, which is set to start on March 22 in Kolkata.

RCB's probable playing XI for IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: X/@RCBTweets)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play under the leadership of Rajat Patidar in IPL 2025. The Madhya Pradesh-based cricketer, who was retained for Rs 14 crore by the Bengaluru-based franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions last year, was appointed as the captain on February 13. The right-handed batter impressed with his batting performances last year, and with added responsibility now, he would like to come up with a much-improved show in the 2025 season.

Like every other IPL season, this year once again, RCB’s biggest hope to win the title will rest upon Virat Kohli’s shoulders. The 36-year-old batter is the all-time leading run scorer in IPL history, and he will be eager to live up to the billing. In IPL 2025, Kohli is all set to open the innings with England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt. The former Delhi Capitals and KKR star was signed for Rs 11.50 crore by the Bengaluru-based franchise in the the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Patidar will continue to bat at No. 3, and for the No. 4 position, RCB could promote Krunal Pandya. The three-time IPL winner with the Mumbai Indians was signed for Rs 5.75 crore and could be a very handy option in the middle order with his aggressive left-handed batting. England’s Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone, who joined the franchise for Rs 2.60 crore and Rs 8.75 crore, respectively, are likely to be the other two first-choice middle-order batters, with former MI stars Tim David and Romario Shepherd being as backup options.

RCB signed Indian wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma for Rs 11 crore, and the cricketer from Vidarbha will have big responsibilities on his shoulders as a finisher.

Jitesh has done well in patches for Punjab Kings in the last three years, but for RCB, he really has to take his game to the next level.

In the bowling, the onus will be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, who joined the RCB team in the IPL 2025 mega auction for Rs 10.75 crore and Rs 12.50 crore, respectively. In addition to the two senior pacers, there will be high expectations also from uncapped Indian pacer Yash Dayal, who was retained ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Even though RCB miss the presence of a world-class spinner in their IPL 2025 squad, they do have the likes of Suyash Sharma, who could make life difficult for opposition players.

As for the impact player, RCB will have an option to choose from Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh and Swastik Chhikara.