During the IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made strategic moves by acquiring 19 players without appearing desperate for a captaincy option. The franchise’s highest bid was for Josh Hazlewood, who was bought for ?12.50 crore. Notably, their bids for prominent captaincy candidates Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul were cautious, with Pant going for ?11 crore and Rahul for ?10.50 crore.

Reports indicate that ViratKohli is set to return as RCB captain for the 2025 season, which aligns with the squad’s composition of 22 players (19 new buys and three retained). Although RCB pursued Pant and Rahul, their bidding strategy suggested they aimed to build a strong core rather than seeking a new leader. They did not engage in the bidding for ShreyasIyer, who ultimately went to Punjab Kings for ?26.75 crore.

Despite initial aggression in pursuing Pant and Rahul, RCB refrained from further bidding once prices exceeded ?10 crore. They also chose not to re-sign former captain Faf Du Plessis, who could have been acquired for less than ?7 crore. With Kohli’s leadership, RCB hopes to finally secure their maiden IPL title after years of near misses.