After the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Director of Cricket Mo Bobat shared the strategy behind the team’s calculated and bold approach in approaching auctions and decisions . He highlighted that RCB focused on building a balanced and competitive team and stayed away from the unpredictable nature of the auction.
Getting explosive batsmen like Phil Salt (11.5 CR), Liam Livingstone (8.75 CR) and Tim David (3 CR) spearheaded RCB’s approach, bringing aggression to the top and middle order and aligning with the ‘bold brand of cricket”. ‘ RCB also created a tantalizing bowling unit by bringing back Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood (Rs 12.5 CR), who knows the Chinnaswamy track well, and partnering him with Indian swing king* Bhuvneshwar Kumar* (Rs 10.75CR).
“Let’s be honest: RCB never won the IPL. In the past, we have focused on spending a lot on a small number of players. This year, we approached it differently, aiming to build a balanced team rather than spending disproportionately on top-tier hitters, as we might have done before. Jitesh Sharma is a high-quality Indian player who adds real power in the order; someone who could replicate some of DK’s finishing,” explained Mo Bobat.
Choosing not to participate in the initial stage of the auction and focusing only on the players they really wanted was a deliberate and bold strategy on the part of the team’s management. Each of the successful deals addressed key roles and added diversity to the team, aligning with the broader goals for next season and beyond.
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma (₹11 CR) added finishing strength to the lower order, creating a formidable batting line-up, while the addition of experienced Krunal Pandya (₹5.75 CR) and Romario Shepherd from the West Indies provided steel both for batting. and the bowling departments.
It was really great to have Bhuvi today; that skill level, along with Krunal’s skill level, will complement Hazlewood’s return to RCB. It would be great to have him back at the club. Yash Dayal, we saw what he did last year and we have a salam Rasikh, vying for a spot as well. So, I think that kind of skill is a skill in the bowling department, it is what is needed at Chinnaswamy. So having that level of skill secured is a good feeling for us. Well, we actually have a lot of our top picks. So, we are very happy with our situation right now. said head coach Andy Flower.
The purchasing strategy also reflected a strong reliance on results-oriented, limitless players, addressing the needs of the bold teams that management aims to create. The purchases of Suyash Sharma ($2.2 CR) and Rasikh Dar ($6 CR) describe that mindset. The team’s objective was to build a strong and effective Indian bowling core from start to finish alongside Yash Dayal; Rasikh, who emerged as a particularly economical prospect in IPL 2024, and Suyash, whose spin bowling fooled many batsmen, were part of that goal.
“So, unfortunately, we were rescued and couldn’t deliver Yuzi. [Chahal] Back to the fans, but we are very happy with what we have seen with Suyash Sharma. He is a quality player who bowls aggressively and we believe he can add value,” Bobat explained.
RCB purchases until 8 pm (updated list will be sent after auction)
Liam Livingstone ($8.75 CR), Phil Salt ($11.5 CR), Jitesh Sharma ($11 CR), Josh Hazlewood ($12.5 CR), Rasikh Dar ($6 CR), Suyash Sharma ($ 2.2 CR), Krunal Pandya (₹5.75 CR), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 CR), Swapnil Singh (₹50 L), Tim David ( ₹3 CR), Romario Shepherd (₹1.5 CR), Nuwan Untilhara ($1.6 CR), Jacob Bethell ($2.6 CR), Manoj Bhandale ($30 L)