Courtesy: Google/BCCI/IPL
Former Australia wicketkeeper batter Adam Gilchrist has predicted Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to end up at the bottom of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 points table. RCB will be playing under their new captain Rajat Patidar at the marquee T20 event. After playing 17 IPL seasons, Bengaluru qualified for the finals thrice but choked on all three occasions. Their last appearance in the final was in 2016 under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. In the final against the David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, they fell eight runs short and failed to lift the coveted trophy.
Back in IPL 2009, Gilchrist broke RCB’s dream to win the trophy after guiding Deccan Chargers to the six-run victory against Bengaluru in the final of the installment held in Johannesburg. Appearing on the Club Prairie Fire podcast alongside former England skipper Michael Vaughan, Gilchrist looked sarcastic and pulled his former English competitor's legs.
"I think there is a fair chance (that RCB finish at the bottom), because I'm basing it on the fact that there's just too many Englishmen in the squad. So, RCB. On the back of having too many Englishmen in there," said Gilchrist on the podcast.
"Nothing against Virat, nothing against their fans. I apologise to the fans, but you've got to talk to your recruiting agents," added Gilchrist.
RCB invested massive amount in England players
RCB splurged huge money to reserve the services of England players in IPL 2025. Their biggest buy was the top-order batter Phil Salt, who was part of victorious Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024. Salt pulled off the contract of INR 11.5 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. With this heavy amount, he was the second most expensive buy for the Challengers at the business event held in Jeddah.
Another England stalwart Liam Livingstone also became a part of RCB after the three-time IPL finalists snapped him up for INR 8.75 crore. RCB will begin their campaign against defending champions KKR at the iconic Eden Gardens on March 22.
