IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full List of Retained and Released players

While it was widely expected that Kohli would be RCB’s top retention, it remains uncertain whether he will reassume a captaincy role after stepping back.

Written by FE News Desk

Updated: October 31, 2024 19:16 IST

Their 2024 season started on a rocky note, with the team dropping six of their first seven games. (RCB)

Virat Kohli has been retained for an astonishing Rs 21 crore, making him the highest-paid Indian player in the IPL 2025 Player Retentions announced on Thursday. In addition to Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have retained middle-order batsman Rajat Patidar and left-arm seamer Yash Dayal. Patidar will stay with the team at Rs 11 crore, while Dayal is retained for Rs 5 crore. This retention strategy means RCB will have three Right to Match (RTM) cards available for the upcoming IPL 2025 Mega Auction.

There has been much speculation about Kohli potentially returning to a leadership position within the team. While it was widely expected that he would be RCB’s top retention, it remains uncertain whether he will reassume a captaincy role after stepping back.

Following the last mega auction, Faf du Plessis was appointed as captain, leading the team to mixed results. RCB has historically struggled with bowling consistency, which has hindered their ability to be strong title contenders. The 2024 season saw a rough start, with the team losing six out of their first seven matches. However, they made a remarkable comeback, winning all seven of their remaining games and ultimately reaching the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator.