IPL 2025: 3 RCB players who might not get many chances in the XI

In an attempt to break the curse and win their first IPL trophy in 2025, the three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) finalists Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) added some exciting names at last month's mega-auction.

Since most of the batters are automatic selections, choosing Bengaluru's playing XI seems to be a very simple process. The majority of decisions about the bowling lineup are similarly arranged.

In the IPL 2025 auction, the RCB franchise corrected and strengthened its poor bowling lineup. They bought class bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, and Krunal Pandya, among others. They retained Yash Dayal as well from the previous season.

However, some players might not get many chances in the RCB XI owing to various combinations. Today, we will take a look at the 3 players in the RCB squad who might not get many chances in IPL 2025.

Here are the 3 RCB players who might not get many chances in the XI in IPL 2025:

1. Lungi Ngidi

Proteas speedster Lungi Ngidi may spend most of his time on the sidelines after the acquisition of Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood, who can bowl in all aspects of the game and is virtually certain to make the starting lineup, is anticipated to be RCB's main foreign pacer.

Ngidi may not be considered by Bengaluru as the best option to replace an all-phase bowler, even if Hazlewood is out due to injury. Rasikh Salam could be used to fill the position instead. Given the shorter boundaries at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Ngidi's bowling style might not be a good fit.

2. Manoj Bhandage

Indian cricketer Manoj Bhandage plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and Karnataka at home. At the time of the 2023 Indian Premier League, he was 24 years old and was born in Raichur, Karnataka, on October 5, 1998. He bowls medium fast with his right arm and bats left.

At the IPL 2025 auction in Saudi Arabia, RCB purchased him for INR 30 lakhs, which was his base price. He was also a member of the RCB team in the 2023 and 2024 Indian Premier League when the team purchased him for his base fee.

He bowls quickly and is a very good lower-order hitter. However, Bhandage is the backup for the backups because the RCB team is full of players who can make big shots down the order, such as Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Krunal Pandya.

3. Mohit Rathee

A leg-spinning all-rounder from Haryana, Mohit Rathee represents Services in domestic cricket. Rathee has amassed 100 runs and taken 9 wickets in 13 Twenty20 matches, with his highest bowling total being 2/16.

The all-rounder is a good batsman and bowler, and he will surely become a better cricketer if he can hone his skills in front of well-known international players in the locker room.

It is unclear how many games the RCB team will play with all-round spin bowling players like Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, and Krunal Pandya. Mohit Rathee has played one game in IPL for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024.

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