IPL 2025: The Indian Premier League has always had an immense legacy, and so did the teams, from the five-time winners Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to the Kolkata Knight Riders, who have won all their titles only in the presence of Gautam Gambhir, either as a player, captain, or coach.
But one team that always holds a special place in the hearts of their fans is RCB. The team has the second biggest fanbase in India, after MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings. The team is often said to have gained popularity as Virat Kohli, the veteran cricketer and India’s modern star, has inspired many into the game and has been a part of the franchise for around 17 years, playing every edition with the Reds since the inaugural season in 2008.
It seems harsh to say that if Virat Kohli leaves the RCB den, then they will lose most of its popularity, as despite having the finest ever players with the likes of Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers, they have never been able to lift the title in all these years. They have played 2 crucial finals, first under Kumble’s leadership in 2010 and then under Kohli’s leadership in 2016, both of which they lost.
Despite all these bizarre and awry facts, RCB still remains one of the most loved teams of the IPL and is always a keen franchise to look at during the auctions. Though most of their big auction buys have failed from years back Yuvraj Singh to recent Cam Green, Royal Challengers do not bar themselves from making big claims at the mega-auction.
Let’s have a look at the best possible players from the den of RCB whom the management, comprising player-turned-coach Dinesh Karthik, might pick for retention before the mega auction.
Top 3 Players to be Retained by RCB ahead of IPL mega-auction 2025
Rajat Patidar
RCB do not have many good bowlers on their deck, as that was the very region they were punished in the last season. So filled with batters, the first player among top priorities remains Rajat Patidar. The MP boy showcased his stunning talent for RCB last season as he smashed the balls out of the park and scored a bunch of quick-fire 50’s.
Patidar can be an asset for the Challengers in years to come, and hence he might be kept in the side at the minimal price he was brought for in the previous mega-auction.
Faf du Plessis
Yes, the veteran turns 40 before IPL 2025, but age is just a number, and one who makes this statement a fact is none other than the veteran South African. Retired long from international cricket, Faf has been a constant among franchise cricket leagues.
He was appointed RCB’s skipper after Kohli left his armband to be taken by someone else. Faf has had wonderful numbers with CSK and then 3 best seasons for the Bengaluru side as well. His fitness and fielding abilities are beyond excellence, which makes him a great fit in the shortest format.
Though there are speculations about RCB looking to rope in KL Rahul from LSG as their skipper for the upcoming season, Faf still remains a batting asset for the side, as he was their second-best scorer last season and was the only batter in the recently concluded MLC 2024 with 400+ runs.
Bought at a minimal 7 crores INR, Faf if left out at the mega-auction might be a tight revenue for the RCB to invest on.
Virat Kohli
This name needs no explanation. Said earlier, he has been retained by the Royal Challengers for all seasons since 2008, the only player after ex-Indian skipper MS Dhoni to have achieved this feat. It seems Bangalore is now his second home.
Even if the BCCI allows only one player to be retained before the auction, it is definitely Virat for RCB. As he retired from international T20s following India’s World Cup triumph, he can now focus on playing the IPL with a free spirit—nothing to lose but only the IPL trophy to be gained.
Considerably the greatest in the format, Kohli has 8000+ IPL runs, leaving behind his competitors Dhawan, Rohit, and Warner by a huge margin of 1000+ runs. Kohli is likely the legend to finish as the only player who has played only for a single jersey throughout his IPL career after MI’s Kieron Pollard, who was seen retiring in 2023 and had played 15 editions for the franchise.
