Royal Challengers Bengaluru To Pick Virat Kohli And…: 6 Players RCB Could Retain Ahead Of IPL 2025 Mega Auctions – News18

Last Updated:October 28, 2024, 07:00 IST

Royal Challengers Bengaluru want to retain their core along with the face of the team Virat Kohli for IPL 2025 mega auctions.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are yet to win the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of the mega auction, the franchise will be aiming to retain key players as they continue their chase for the elusive maiden title. For RCB, IPL 2024 was a tale of two halves. From struggling to avoid the wooden spoon in the first half, they found a right combination at the crucial phase and beat all calculations and expectations to qualify for the playoffs.

Here’s a look at six players RCB should retain ahead of IPL 2025 mega auctions:

Virat Kohli: The RCB former captain has been with the franchise ever since the inception of the IPL. He was last season’s Orange Cap winner with 741 runs in 15 matches at a strike-rate of 154. In more ways than one, Kohli is the face of the team as well as the heart. It is a no-brainer that he will be retained as the first pick.

Mohammed Siraj: The premier Indian pacer has it in him to win matches on his own on his day with seam and bounce. Besides last season’s blip, the Hyderabad-born speedster has come up in leaps and bounds for the Indian national team and is a genuine star for the Bengaluru-based franchise.

Faf du Plessis: Current captain may have ended his international career but the 40-year-old South African is a hot commodity in franchise leagues around the globe. Du Plessis recently led Saint Lucia Kings to the Caribbean Premier League title and is fit as a fiddle. Add to that his ability with the bat, the veteran, even though with age not on his side, can be a key asset for the franchise.

Glenn Maxwell: The Aussie allrounder did not set the stage alight with RCB in the IPL last year but a promise of finally coming good lingers. A forgetful season behind him and some good performances for the national side may just be the injection of ‘feel-good’ that propels him to his best. On his day, Maxwell can produce match-winning innings and RCB will hope their Aussie import lives up to his reputation.

Rajat Patidar: A middle-order batter with the ability to clear boundaries at will, Patidar adds brings a much needed stability. The late-bloomer’s artsy strokeplay in the closing stages of a game is something that can’t be bought from the open market and that alone merits retention.

Yash Dayal (uncapped): After the ignominy of past seasons, the left-armer has found a new lease of life in Bengaluru which opened the path to the national side on the back of confident performances. A countable death specialist now, a rare commodity in the market, the 26-year-old is a sureshot to find his name among the retentions.