As Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up for their marquee clash against Chennai Super Kings on May 3 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, there’s a sense of quiet confidence around the Rajat Patidar-led side. The Red and Gold Brigade has been one of the most consistent teams in IPL 2025, racking up seven wins in ten matches.
RCB’s rise this season hasn’t been about one-man heroics but rather a cohesive, balanced side delivering under pressure. Under Patidar, this unit has displayed discipline and tactical flexibility. Whether it’s the batting unit led by Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, and Patidar himself, or the bowling attack marshalled by Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Krunal Pandya, this side is ticking all the right boxes.
Phil Salt set to return; Jacob Bethell likely to make way
The only uncertainty going into the CSK fixture revolves around the opening slot. Phil Salt missed the last match against Delhi Capitals (DC) due to a fever, paving the way for young English batter Jacob Bethell to make his debut.
While Bethell showed flashes of intent, he only managed 12 runs off 6 balls before being dismissed. With Salt now reportedly recovering and having been in touch with the medical team, there’s optimism in the RCB camp that he could return in time for this high-voltage fixture.
Salt’s inclusion would restore the aggressive-conservative balance at the top of the order with Kohli. The duo have worked well in tandem throughout the season—Salt going hard in the powerplay while Kohli anchors and builds the innings. If fit, Salt walking back into the XI seems like the most likely change, with Bethell making way.
Otherwise a well-balanced RCB team
Beyond the possible return of Salt, RCB are unlikely to tinker with their playing XI. Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar have been solid in the middle order, while the lower-middle order, comprising Romario Shepherd, Tim David, and Jitesh Sharma, provides both power and flexibility.
Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have been RCB’s go-to spin options—especially in the middle overs—while the pace attack of Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar, and Yash Dayal offers experience, variation, and control. Importantly, the Impact Player role has been used smartly, with Suyash often stepping in depending on the conditions and match scenario.
RCB Predicted Playing XI vs CSK
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Phil Salt | Right-hand batter |
| Virat Kohli | Right-hand batter |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Left-hand batter |
| Rajat Patidar (C) | Right-hand batter |
| Romario Shepherd | All-rounder |
| Jitesh Sharma | Right-hand batter (WK) |
| Tim David | Right-hand batter |
| Krunal Pandya | All-rounder (Left-arm spin) |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Right-arm pacer |
| Josh Hazlewood | Right-arm pacer |
| Yash Dayal | Left-arm pacer |
