RCB’s Struggles Continue – Can They Overcome Their Flaws in IPL 2025?
As the countdown to IPL 2025 begins, all eyes are on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as they kick off their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on March 22. With a loyal and passionate fan base, fueled by Virat Kohli’s star power, RCB is once again chasing their elusive maiden IPL title.
However, despite assembling a strong squad, several critical weaknesses remain, raising concerns about whether RCB can finally lift the trophy or falter once again.
Squad Composition & Key Concerns
RCB has opted for a lean squad of 22 players, three short of the maximum 25-player limit. Their team features:
- 6 specialist batsmen
- 7 all-rounders
- 9 fast bowlers
While their squad is packed with pacers, their foreign pace attack lacks experience and proven match-winners, which could be a major roadblock in high-pressure games.
RCB’s Major Weaknesses in IPL 2025
1️⃣ Lack of Impactful Foreign Pacers
One of the biggest concerns for RCB is their fast-bowling department.
🔴 Key Issues:
✔ Josh Hazlewood’s fitness concerns – Returning from injury, his form and durability remain questionable.
✔ Lungi Ngidi’s inconsistency – Hasn’t played an IPL match since 2021 and has an inconsistent record in the tournament.
✔ Nuwan Thushara & Romario Shepherd’s inexperience – Neither has made a significant impact in the IPL so far.
Without a reliable overseas pacer, RCB’s bowling attack lacks the firepower needed to win crunch matches, especially on batting-friendly pitches like Chinnaswamy Stadium.
2️⃣ Over-Reliance on Domestic Pacers
While RCB has experienced Indian pacers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, they do not possess a genuine match-winning fast bowler who can consistently deliver in death overs.
🔴 Concerns with Domestic Pace Attack:
✔ Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s declining pace & injury history
✔ Yash Dayal’s inconsistency in high-pressure games
✔ Lack of an out-and-out express pace bowler
Without a genuine pace spearhead, RCB could struggle in the death overs, where top teams often capitalize to score big runs.
3️⃣ Weak Middle Order & Dependence on Top Order
Despite having powerful openers like Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, RCB’s middle order looks shaky.
🔴 Concerns with RCB’s Batting:
✔ Lack of proven middle-order stabilizers – Heavy reliance on all-rounders like Liam Livingstone and Krunal Pandya.
✔ No experienced Indian middle-order batsman – RCB lacks a dependable Indian batter in the middle overs.
✔ Risk of collapses if Kohli & top order fail – If Kohli & Padikkal don’t fire, the team could struggle to recover.
A fragile middle order has been RCB’s Achilles’ heel in past seasons, and unless they find a solution, their batting unit might falter under pressure once again.
RCB’s Full Squad for IPL 2025
🔴 Captain: Rajat Patidar
📝 Batsmen:
✔ Virat Kohli
✔ Swastik Chikara
✔ Devdutt Padikkal
🧤 Wicketkeepers:
✔ Jitesh Sharma
✔ Philip Salt
⚡ All-rounders:
✔ Manoj Bhandage
✔ Tim David
✔ Krunal Pandya
✔ Liam Livingstone
✔ Romario Shepherd
✔ Jacob Bethell
✔ Swapnil Singh
🎯 Bowlers:
✔ Bhuvneshwar Kumar
✔ Josh Hazlewood
✔ Nuwan Thushara
✔ Lungi Ngidi
✔ Yash Dayal
✔ Rasikh Salam
✔ Suyash Sharma
✔ Mohit Rathee
✔ Abhinandan Singh
Will RCB’s Weaknesses Cost Them Another IPL Trophy?
Despite having a talented squad, RCB’s bowling vulnerabilities, middle-order inconsistency, and dependence on key players remain major hurdles.
🔴 RCB Must Overcome These Challenges To Win IPL 2025:
✅ Find reliable overseas pacers to strengthen their bowling attack
✅ Ensure Indian fast bowlers step up in crunch moments
✅ Stabilize the middle order to avoid collapses
With a strong strategy and key players stepping up, RCB can challenge for the title. However, if these weaknesses persist, the wait for their first IPL trophy may continue.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
