Day 1 of the IPL 2025 mega auction was packed with excitement as franchises like Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants made bold moves. Among them, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) entered with one of the highest purse amounts, having retained just three players.
RCB made significant acquisitions on the first day, securing wicketkeeper-batters Jitesh Sharma for ₹11 crore and Phil Salt for ₹11.5 crore.
Speaking about the new signings, RCB’s batting coach Dinesh Karthik shared his insights during the broadcast.
“Jitesh Sharma is a very explosive middle-order batsman. We wanted someone who is on the fringes of the Indian team, and he is right there. We’ve seen what he can do in the IPL. He’s got specific areas where he can hit effectively, and with RCB’s home ground favoring spin play, he comes as a very, very good option,” Karthik said.
On Phil Salt, Karthik expressed equal enthusiasm: “What can I say about Phil Salt? He’s explosive, especially in the powerplay. Great attitude, and a nice guy to have around in the team. Everything about him says he’s the kind of player RCB would love to have.”
With both Jitesh and Salt being wicketkeeper-batters, RCB faces the challenge of choosing one to take up the gloves. Karthik acknowledged this potential dilemma, stating, “I think it is a decision that we will take closer to the tournament. It’s a discussion we need to have to see who is the better fielder, who is the better wicketkeeper, and accordingly figure out what is the right option.”
RCB’s strategic moves on Day 1 reflect their intent to build a versatile and dynamic squad for the 2025 IPL season.