Despite being one of the most popular franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has yet to win an Indian Premier League (IPL) title. They reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016 but fell short each time. Last season, they finished fourth on the points table and were eliminated in the playoffs. With a revamped squad and a new captain, IPL 2025 offers another chance for RCB to break their title drought. However, it remains to be seen if their auction strategy and leadership decisions will pay off.
Virat Kohli’s Captaincy Return?
There is growing speculation that Virat Kohli might return as RCB captain for IPL 2025. With the departure of former skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB needs a new leader, but the franchise has not made an official announcement yet.
“Currently, we have not decided anything. We have multiple leaders in the team—four to five individuals who can take charge. We will deliberate and reach a conclusion in due time,” said RCB COO Rajesh Menon in an exclusive interview with Sports Today.
Kohli, who captained RCB from 2011 to 2021, led the team in 143 matches, winning 66 and losing 70, with a win percentage of 48.56%. His most notable campaign was in 2016, where he scored a record-breaking 973 runs and guided RCB to the final, only to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
RCB’s IPL 2025 Auction Decisions Spark Debate
RCB has faced criticism for their strategy at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Contrary to expectations, the franchise did not make aggressive bids for star Indian wicketkeeper-batters like KL Rahul. This decision puzzled many fans and cricket analysts. The team’s most expensive acquisition was Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, secured for INR 12.50 crore, while England’s explosive opener Phil Salt became their costliest overseas batter.
Menon defended the franchise’s choices, emphasizing that their selections were influenced by the conditions at their home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“We were very clear about the gaps we needed to fill and the Indian core we wanted to build. Considering the conditions at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, we focused on the type of bowling attack required. On Day 1, it seemed like we were not participating much in the auction, but by the end of Day 2, everyone—from fans to experts—felt we had covered all the gaps and built one of the best teams,” Menon concluded.