Despite being one of the most popular franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) remains without an Indian Premier League (IPL) title. They have reached three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 but have failed to clinch the coveted trophy. Their performance last season saw them finish fourth on the points table before being eliminated in the playoffs. With a revamped squad and a new captain set to take charge, IPL 2025 presents yet another opportunity for RCB to break their title jinx. However, whether their auction strategy and leadership decision will pay off remains to be seen.
Virat Kohli’s captaincy return ?
Amid growing speculation that Virat Kohli might return as RCB captain for IPL 2025, COO Rajesh Menon remained non-committal. With the departure of former skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB must appoint a new leader, but the franchise has yet to make an official announcement
“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,” RCB COO Menon said in an exclusive interview to 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 amassed a record-breaking 973 runs and guided RCB to the final, only to fall short against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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RCB’s IPL 2025 auction decisions spark debate
RCB have also faced criticism for their strategy at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Contrary to widespread speculation, the franchise did not make aggressive bids for star Indian wicketkeeper-batters like KL Rahul, who were expected to be high-profile targets. This decision left many fans and cricketing analysts puzzled over RCB’s auction approach. Additionally, the team’s most expensive acquisition was Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, secured for Rs 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 in terms of what kind of gaps we have and what all we need to fulfill and what is the Indian core that we require to build, and if you want to play in M Chinnaswamy (Stadium), what kind of bowling attack we require. And that is what we did. If you see Day 1, it was low-key for us. People thought we were not participating in the auction, but at the end of Day 2, everybody, right from fans to experts, felt saying what we have done is the best because we have covered all the gaps, and I think we have got one of the best teams,” Menon concluded.
