No Place For Liam Livingstone; Padikkal Out? RCB's Strongest XI For IPL 2025 Match vs RR

RCB will take on RR on Sunday [Source: AP]

On Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 28 of the IPL 2025 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB are currently placed fourth with three victories in five appearances. 

In their previous IPL 2025 encounter, RCB incurred a crushing six-wicket defeat from Delhi Capitals at home. In fact, the Red Brigade have blown hot and cold in the tournament of late, winning only one out of their last three matches. 

So, moving on to this game, the Royal Challengers might slightly tinker with their playing combination, as mentioned below. 

RCB's Playing XI vs DC

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Impact player- Devdutt Padikkal

Liam Livingstone To Make Room For Jacob Bethell?

(Liam Livingstone's stats in IPL 2025)

While the top-order comprising Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar has done a good job for RCB, Liam Livingstone has disappointed the Bengaluru-based side with two consecutive failures. Apart from a valiant fifty against Gujarat Titans, Livingstone has done nothing significant with the bat so far in the tournament. 

His vulnerability as a middle order batter has made matters worse for RCB's finishers, affecting their ideal entry points. Also, considering they have an RHB-heavy middle order, RCB might consider including Jacob Bethell, who can ensure solidity in their batting lineup. 

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Is Bethell A More Reliable Left-Hander Than Padikkal?

Devdutt Padikkal has been impressive neither as an accelerator nor as an anchor. Although he played brisk cameos against MI and CSK, his struggles against raw pace have been quite evident. Statistically, Padikkal has amassed 79 runs at a poor average of 15.80 in the IPL 2025. 

Thus, Jacob Bethell, who has averaged around 30 and struck at 135.87 in T20 cricket since 2024, can be slotted at number three, solidifying RCB's top order alongside Phil Salt and Virat Kohli. 

If they form a top four comprising Salt, Kohli, Bethell and Patidar, RCB can use the hard-hitting Manoj Bhandage as a finisher down the order. In the Maharaja T20 2024, Bhandage struck 292 runs at an average of 41.71 and a blistering strike rate of 213.14. 

Meanwhile, despite leaking 45 runs off three overs in the last game, Yash Dayal might get another opportunity, as he has been a wicket-taker for RCB in the IPL 2025. 

RCB's Strongest Playing XI vs RR

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt,  Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Impact Players: Manoj Bhandage/Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam

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