NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have Rs 83 crore in the bank -- the second largest auction purse after Punjab Kings -- and with that they are all set for the 2025 mega auction, looking to make bold moves at the two-day event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Looking to play 'bold brand of cricket', the team is focusing on strategic moves to strengthen their squad after retaining just three players from their last squad.
The franchise retained Virat Kohli (Rs 21 crore), Rajat Patidar (Rs 11 crore) and Yash Dayal (Rs 5 crore) for a combined sum of Rs 37 crore and now have 22 slots to fill with their remaining purse.
"We paired our auction preparation with a camp, dedicating two long back-to-back days to evaluate local talent,"* said Mo Bobat, RCB’s Director of Cricket.
With Chinnaswamy’s distinctive pitch in mind, RCB are focusing on building a diverse bowling attack.
"Given the conditions, variety in our bowling attack is crucial. With Yash Dayal retained, our priority will be complementing his skills with players who can thrive in these conditions, while also addressing other key roles," Bobat added.
RCB’s batting coach, Dinesh Karthik, who was a key player for the team until last year, spoke about the process and the franchise's strategy for the auction.
"In the last week or so, I’ve woken up from sleep with a player or a number in my head. Every morning, I find myself thinking about how the team’s structure should look. My perspective on how I would be picked—based on who would want me—is so different now that I’m sitting on the other side. The jeopardy involved makes the auction such an interesting and unpredictable place," said Karthik.
Along with Rs 83 crore in the bank, RCB also have three Right to Match (RTM) cards to use at the auction.
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