RCB’s Path to the IPL 2025 Final
RCB’s journey to the IPL 2025 final began well before the tournament started. It all kicked off at the auction table in November 2024. Let’s dive into how RCB became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2025 final.
The Unique IPL 2025 Mega-Auction
The IPL 2025 mega-auction was something special. It had a lot of high-profile Indian players up for grabs. Players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ishan Kishan were available.
You don’t often see so many top players in one auction. Teams usually keep them. But by 2024-25, Indian cricket had so much talent that teams had filled their retention quotas. This led to a rich pool of players in the 2025 mega-auction.
A New Approach to Bidding
In past years, RCB often went the extra mile to get big-name players. But in 2025, they did things differently. They set price limits for players and stuck to them. They focused on skills, not just names.
RCB’s highest bid for Rishabh Pant was ₹11 crore. They couldn’t even bid for Shreyas Iyer because his price went over ₹10 crore. Their highest bid for Arshdeep Singh was ₹10.50 crore, the same as for KL Rahul.
They didn’t bid for Ishan Kishan. In the marquee set, their highest bid was for Yuzvendra Chahal, at ₹14.25 crore.
Interestingly, missing out on Chahal led to their only beyond-the-band bidding. They went as high as ₹23.50 crore for Venkatesh Iyer. They had budgeted the same amount for Venkatesh as the others. But after missing out on Chahal, they had extra money to spend.
Choosing Balance Over Superstars
RCB’s most expensive players were:
- Josh Hazlewood for ₹12.50 crore
- Philip Salt for ₹11.50 crore
- Jitesh Sharma for ₹11 crore
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar for ₹10.75 crore
They spent a total of ₹46.75 crore on these four high-quality players. In the past, RCB would have spent this amount on one superstar and two lesser-known players. This time, they came out looking balanced.
They also got some quality players at lower prices. These players came up later in the auction when budgets were depleted. With a stable core, they added players like Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Krunal Pandya. Suddenly, RCB had a squad with depth, variety, and different skill sets.
Putting Plans into Action
Having a good auction is important, but it’s only half the battle. The real test is on the field. RCB’s entire squad deserves credit for their stunning campaign. They have had nine different players win Man of the Match awards. Everyone has contributed.
After his amazing 85* off 33 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Jitesh Sharma thanked everyone in the RCB squad. He thanked not just the playing XI and those on the bench, but also the coaches, throwdown specialists, and logistics people. It showed his character and the unity of the team.
The RCB that has taken the field in IPL 2025 is different from past RCB sides. This difference has taken them one step away from an 18-year-old dream. Whether they win or not, the transformation is promising for the future.
