Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the mega auction with a hefty budget of INR 83 crore, having spent just INR 37 crore so far. They have retained players like Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, who have been releasing other players. This means RCB will look to invest the remaining money in building a strong team. However, the key question is which wicketkeeper they will target, as the team no longer has Dinesh Karthik, leaving them without a reliable wicketkeeper. RCB will need someone who can fulfil this role well while also being capable of delivering big hits when required. Given this current need, take a look at three quality wicketkeepers that RCB might consider targeting in the IPL 2025 auction.
Rishabh Pant
Since RCB is currently searching for an aggressive batter who can also showcase his skills as a wicketkeeper, there’s no doubt that this southpaw is currently the best in the business. There were rumours in the past also came that teams like CSK and RCB were eyeing Rishabh Pant, and if we see now he is surely good for the role RCB is looking to fill. Apart from replacing Dinesh Karthik, Pant’s explosive batting style will be ideal for the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, as every team will play seven home matches on the league stage. The pitch suits aggressive batters, and the short boundaries make it a perfect place for Pant to thrive.
KL Rahul
Not the new name for Bengaluru, KL Rahul, who played for RCB from 2013 to 2016, has the most experience opening the innings for them. During that time, he scored 417 runs, showed his batting, especially in the initial overs.
With Faf du Plessis not in the mix, RCB also needs a captain, and now we can expect that, with his opening batting and perfect wicketkeeping skills, RCB will likely target this superstar player. Also, there are enough reports which indicate how much RCB is looking to bring KL Rahul back.
Phil Salt
Already did a wonderful job for KKR in the last IPL, but now Phil Salt is not in the mix and will go under the hammer. This dynamic English wicketkeeper-batter could snatch everyone’s attention in this auction. He is known for his explosive batting and impressive wicketkeeping skills. With 435 runs to his name last season, Salt averaged nearly 40 in 12 innings and scored at a rate of 182. He could play an absolutely perfect role as an opener for RCB and keep wickets as well.
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