Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik and Faf du Plessis. (Source -Getty Images)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished third in IPL 2022, sixth in the 2023 edition of the competition and fourth in the latest edition. They have done a decent job but require plenty of changes ahead of the next edition to compete for the title. On the batting front, the team still heavily depends on its top four – which features the likes of Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell but to win a tournament, every team needs a balance, which was missing in the RCB and for the same reason, they have failed to get closer to the trophy.
In the 2024 edition particularly, RCB lost seven out of their first eight matches. They managed to win their remaining six matches in the league and qualified for the playoffs but losing seven out of eight games cannot be ignored. None of their plans worked, and things only changed when they tried an alternate approach. It took them several games to understand the right combination, and that is something they cannot afford every season.
The fans are desperate to see the franchise win the tournament, as 17 editions now have passed. With the mega-auction likely coming up, RCB will be forced to release the majority of their players and that can be a good thing for them as the team needs significant changes. They will once again have the opportunity to build a squad from scratch and if they plan well, the Bengaluru-based side can buy the right players who can help them win the trophy. However, ahead of that, they need to sacrifice certain players.
Here are three key players RCB can release ahead of IPL 2025:
3. Mahipal Lomror
Royal Challengers Bengaluru backed Mahipal Lomror for the last couple of editions, but the youngster failed to make a mark in the tournament. In the 2023 edition of the competition, Lomror batted ten times but managed to score only 135 runs. His strike rate was never a matter of doubt, but when it comes to consistency, Lomror struggled.
Despite that, the franchise kept faith in the 24-year-old. He played 10 matches for RCB in the 2024 season and again, he batted with a good strike rate but failed to convert his starts to a big total. He made 125 runs, with the highest score of 33 and following which, it’s very unlikely that RCB will retain him or use an RTM card if BCCI brings that back for the mega-auction.
Bengaluru may be inclined to give more opportunities to Rajat Patidar if he is retained for the next season. The 31-year-old had a great time with the bat in IPL 2024 and is much ahead of Lomror in the pecking order. RCB will also look forward to bringing in fresh faces who can take the team to the next level as the majority of their senior players are getting closer to retirement.
Also Check: 3 players RCB might retain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction
2. Glenn Maxwell
RCB bought Glenn Maxwell for INR 11 crore in the auction. The all-rounder did reasonably well but in the 2024 edition of the competition, his form dropped and following which, the Australia international took a break from cricket and returned later in the tournament. His overall performance however wasn’t up to the mark, which may force RCB to look for alternatives.
In 2024, Maxwell made only 52 runs in nine innings and picked up just six wickets. He failed to justify his spot in the playing XI and given his injury concerns and form, RCB are unlikely to back him for another cycle. He has done reasonably well in Major League Cricket but that’s unlikely will convince RCB to retain him.
On top of that, the 35-year-old isn’t getting any younger. He will be over 36 before the next season begins and may even call his time before the next cycle completes. Thus, it’s ideal for RCB to move on and bring younger talent into the mix.
Also Check: Rinku Singh wishes to join RCB if KKR release him ahead of IPL 2025 auctions
1. Faf du Plessis
Not retaining your captain is never ideal, but that’s likely the direction RCB will go with ahead of the next edition. Faf du Plessis has been good, both with bat and captaincy, but his age certainly plays a massive role. He is currently 40 and despite being extremely fit, the franchise can’t trust him with the baton for another three or four years.
The former South Africa international was part of RCB for three years and scored 1636 runs in 45 matches. Under his leadership, the franchise qualified for the playoffs on two occasions, which is a good record, to say the least. However, he may not be able to sustain the skills required to compete in the premier global T20 competition.
They will be looking for alternatives in the market and will try to bring in someone who can lead the team for a decade, like how Virat Kohli did in the past. With the star India batter still there, he can guide the next captain if RCB indeed decides to part ways with Faf.