Each IPL team can field four overseas players in their playing XI. RCB, once again, has shown trust in some brilliant foreign talents who bring quality, whether in batting, bowling, or both.
For now, the focus is on Josh Hazlewood, who may miss quite a few games in IPL 2025 or possibly the entire season, although nothing is confirmed yet. Apart from that, as mentioned, RCB has once again placed faith in its overseas stars. But who are the players likely to feature in most of the starting matches for the Bengaluru franchise in IPL 2025?
Take a look at three overseas names who are likely to start for RCB in IPL 2025.
Phil Salt
The Bengaluru franchise went all out to acquire this superstar. There is no question that Salt is a destructive batter who can take down any top bowler. However, his recent struggles on Asian pitches remain a big concern for the RCB lineup.
He might play a role similar to what Glenn Maxwell has done in the past, taking on the bowlers aggressively rather than focusing on strike rotation. We may also see him opening the innings alongside run machine Virat Kohli. It will be interesting to see how he performs this time. Last season, he was with KKR, but now, with a new team, all eyes will be on this English champion batter.
Tim David
With over 250 T20 games of experience, Tim David has built a reputation as a reliable finisher, having delivered match-winning performances multiple times in the past, including for Mumbai Indians.
If Salt is set to open the innings, then the best role for David would be as a finisher, a position previously held by Dinesh Karthik. This makes his chances of playing most of the initial matches quite high, as he can provide RCB with crucial runs down the order while taking on the bowlers aggressively.
Apart from his batting, his bowling gives him an extra edge. Although he may not be a prolific wicket-taker, he can contribute with a few useful overs to restrict the opposition. However, it is undoubtedly his batting that makes him one of the best in T20 cricket.
Liam Livingstone
Having played for Rajasthan Royals and later Punjab Kings, this English superstar didn’t have a memorable outing in recent international cricket. Even in the last IPL season, his performances fell short of expectations.
However, with the vast experience he has gained by playing T20 cricket worldwide, Livingstone can surely be a key player for RCB. The primary reason for this is his all-round abilities.
With the bat, Livingstone has shown his ability to score runs at a strike rate of over 150, which he has done in the past. In fact, he has accumulated 939 runs in 39 IPL games at an impressive strike rate of 162.46, proving his knack for taking down bowlers in the lower order. Also, his ability to provide a few crucial overs with the ball offers RCB some valuable flexibility in their lineup.
