IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs RR- Match 28

The three-time runners-up of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are currently in fourth place with three victories in six games at a net run rate of +0.803. They are coming off two successive defeats in the 2025 edition.

Bengaluru started their campaign with a powerful victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. They then got another win over the Chennai Super Kings away from home. They also breached the Wankhede Stadium to beat the Mumbai Indians.

But RCB has lost both their home against at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against the Gujarat Titans and the Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs RR- Match 28

Openers- Phil Salt and Virat Kohli

During RCB’s previous game against the Delhi Capitals, Phil Salt took the onus of providing them with a majestic start, especially against Mitchell Starc, who didn’t find the right line and length on a grassy surface. The England wicket-keeper batter nailed 37 runs in just 17 balls, shouldering on four boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of 217.67.

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With 61 runs on the board, thanks to Virat Kohli freeing his arm from the other end, it felt like the 2016 runners-up would aim to go beyond the 250-run mark. But as it has been the case, the luck didn’t go in Salt’s way.

Looking for a single, both the batters ran, and a miscommunication saw the Manchester-born losing his wicket. That was the start of a disastrous batting performance from then on. RCB lost seven wickets for 102 runs in 98 balls.

Middle order: Devdutt Padikkal/Swastik Chikara, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David

Devdutt Paddikal has shown inconsistency in his batting this season. In most of the games, either he got the start and failed to convert it into a big score, or he didn’t even get off to a start. Against Delhi, the same issue continued as the southpaw returned just after opening his account.

Liam Livingstone hasn’t stood out in his performance when RCB needed him the most. Their captain, Rajat Patidar, on the other hand, cracked 25 runs in 23 balls on a tough day.

Even Jitesh Sharma had a very quiet day with three runs in 11 balls. The entire middle order seemed to be struggling to find the right balance between intent and defense. After a powerful start, they just needed to hold their shape and get nine to ten runs per over.

Tim David remained unbeaten on 37 runs in 20 overs to shoulder them beyond the 160-run mark. At 125/7 in 17.1 overs, that also looked quite a distance away.

Bowlers: Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Thakur, Suyash Sharma (Impact)

RCB made a decent start with the ball, using the resources pretty well. Yash Dayal, coming into the attack ahead of Josh Hazlewood, drew the first blood, sending back Faf du Plessis, who couldn’t judge the bounce on the surface. Jake Fraser-McGurk also had the same issue.

Even Abhishek Porel looked to pull the ball, but only got it into the sky. With Axar Patel’s wicket on 58 runs in 8.4 overs, Delhi was nearly out of the chase. But KL Rahul bashed Josh Hazlewood for 22 runs just when it started to sprinkle. Tristan Stubbs also gave him support with 38 runs in 23 balls.

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Suyash Sharma bowled well for 1/25 in four overs. But RCB needs to go back to the drawing room before the next fixture against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

RCB Predicted Playing XI vs RR- IPL 2025, Match 28

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal/ Swastik Chikara, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma.