The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) showed resilience in the last IPL season, making a dramatic comeback to qualify for the playoffs. However, their journey ended in the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals. As the IPL 2025 mega auction approaches, RCB is under pressure to make smart decisions about which players to retain. The team, which has never won the IPL trophy in 17 years, needs to cover all bases to improve their chances.
Here are three players RCB might consider retaining ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
1. Virat Kohli
- Role: Star Batter
- 2024 Season Performance: Leading Run-Scorer
Virat Kohli is RCB’s most iconic player and is expected to be the first name on the retention list. Kohli has never played for another franchise and has a deep connection with RCB fans. The 35-year-old finished as the leading run-scorer in the 2024 season, continuing to prove his worth on the field.
Kohli’s stats are impressive, with over 8,000 runs in 252 matches at a strike rate of 131.97. Despite being one of the greatest white-ball batters, he is yet to win an IPL title, and the upcoming cycle is crucial for him. RCB is likely to build their team around him, hoping he can lead them to their first championship before he retires.
2. Mohammed Siraj
- Role: Pace Bowler
- 2024 Season Performance: Key Bowler for RCB
Mohammed Siraj is another player RCB is likely to retain. Although he did not have a standout season last year, Siraj has been a vital part of RCB’s bowling attack. The 30-year-old pacer might struggle on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, but his familiarity with the team culture and leadership qualities make him an important retention.
RCB has previously let go of key bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel, decisions that didn’t work out well for them. Learning from these mistakes, RCB might build their pace attack around Siraj, ensuring they have a strong Indian pacer in their lineup.
3. Cameron Green
- Role: All-rounder
- 2024 Season Performance: Promising, but Room for Improvement
Cameron Green is a versatile all-rounder who could be a key retention for RCB. Green moved to RCB from Mumbai Indians and, while he showed promise, he didn’t fully meet expectations. However, with changing pitch conditions favoring aggressive batting, Green could be a valuable asset. He can bat in the middle order and finish games, a role RCB needs to fill after Dinesh Karthik’s retirement.
In addition to his batting, Green is also a capable bowler, which adds depth to RCB’s lineup. With captain Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell getting older, Green could be the foreign player RCB should focus on retaining for his all-around abilities.
Summary Table: Potential RCB Retentions for IPL 2025
| Player | Role | 2024 Performance | Reason for Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Star Batter | Leading run-scorer | Iconic player, team leader |
| Mohammed Siraj | Pace Bowler | Key bowler for RCB | Familiarity with team, leadership |
| Cameron Green | All-rounder | Promising, needs improvement | Versatile player, fills key roles |