3 players who will play for RCB in IPL 2025 after being at DC in 2024 ft. Rasikh Salam
The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. After two days of intense bidding wars, all 10 franchises have built their squads.
One of the perennial underachievers of the tournament, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bought some massive names in T20 cricket. They have managed to cover most of their bases and will be eager to turn their fortunes around and win their maiden title in 2025.
Their pace-bowling department looks lethal with Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar expected to share the new ball duties. Hazlewood was bought for a whopping ₹12.50 crore while Bhuvneshwar fetched ₹10.75 crore. For the first time in many years, RCB’s bowling department looks strong.
They bought some relatively unknown faces who were earlier part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise during the 2024 edition.
Let us now have a look at three players who will play for RCB in IPL 2025 after being at DC in 2024:
#1 Rasikh Salam
Young speedster Rasikh Salam was one of the most expensive buys among the uncapped players at the IPL auction. He was snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹6 crore and is expected to become a permanent feature of the RCB playing XI in the upcoming edition.
Set at a base price of ₹30 lakh, RCB and the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) started the bidding war, and eventually, Bengaluru secured his services for ₹2 crore. However, DC exercised their Right to Match (RTM) which put RCB in a spot.
They raised their bid to ₹6 crore to finally acquire his services. He has played a total of eight IPL matches so far, bagging nine wickets in the process. Rasikh would like to repay the faith shown in him by the RCB management and produce a breakthrough season for himself and the franchise.
#2 Swastik Chikara
Nineteen-year-old youngster Swastik Chikara will play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming edition of the IPL but not before some drama unfolded during the second day of the mega auction.
He was bought by RCB for his base price of ₹30 lakh but the confusion surrounding an oversight of the auctioneer after DC head coach Hemang Badani claimed that they had raised their paddle as well.
Auctioneer admitted to her oversight having missed DC’s bid. Despite all the misunderstanding, the player was awarded to RCB. Chikara ended as the leading run-getter of the UP T20 League in 2024.
Chikara was part of the Delhi Capitals squad in 2024 but couldn't quite break into the playing XI. He considers Virender Sehwag as his cricketing idol and credits the swashbuckling batter for his contribution to shaping his attacking style of play.
#3 Lungi Ngidi
South Africa speedster Lungi Ngidi was snapped up by RCB for his base price of ₹1 crore. None of the other nine franchises bid for the fast bowler which ensured RCB secured yet another player for their base price. Ngidi was signed up by the Delhi Capitals for the 2024 season
However, he was ruled out of the competition owing to a lower back injury and was replaced by the swashbuckling Australian batter Jake-Fraser McGurk.
Ngidi has so far played for 14 IPL matches, bagging 25 wickets.