The IPL 2025 Mega Auction kicked off with high expectations, yet the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was scrutinized for their conservative bidding strategy on Day 1.
Despite entering the auction with the second-largest purse of Rs 83 crore, RCB’s approach has puzzled fans and analysts, especially as other franchises made significant investments in top players.
RCB’s IPL 2025 Auction Strategy
On Day 1, RCB made only four signings, securing:
- Liam Livingstone for Rs 8.75 crore
- Phil Salt for Rs 11.50 crore
- Jitesh Sharma for Rs 11 crore
- Josh Hazlewood for Rs 12.25 crore
While these players are competent, many observers expected RCB to pursue marquee names more aggressively, particularly given their need for a strong captaincy option and a reliable wicketkeeper-batter.
Notably, they refrained from using their Right To Match (RTM) cards to retain key players like Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell, who were acquired by other teams for substantial sums.
Missed Opportunities
The franchise’s reluctance to engage in bidding wars for prominent players raised eyebrows.
Before the auction, there was speculation that RCB would target local boy KL Rahul or high-profile players like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer for leadership roles.
However, RCB withdrew from the bidding for Rahul at Rs 10.50 crore and ultimately missed out on both Pant and Iyer, who commanded record prices of Rs 27 crore and Rs 26.75 crore, respectively.
Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticized RCB’s strategy on social media, describing it as “baffling” and “naive.”
He pointed out that the team needed a standout wicketkeeper-batter and should have capitalized on the opportunity to bring back Rahul at a reasonable price.
This sentiment echoed among fans who expressed frustration over RCB’s cautious approach despite having ample funds available.
Looking Ahead
As the auction continues into Day 2, RCB faces pressure to rectify their initial missteps. With many of their preferred captaincy options already off the board, they may need to consider alternative strategies.
Potential candidates include bringing back former captain Faf du Plessis using RTM or opting for an unexpected choice like Sam Curran, who has prior leadership experience in the IPL.
