Cricket

IPL 2025 Mega Auction: RCB's Mo Bobat Emphasizes Flexibility and Contingency PlanningWith the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaching on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, teams are meticulously crafting their auction strategies to navigate the unpredictable dynamics of the event. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Director of Cricket Mo Bobat acknowledges the inherent uncertainty of the auction and stresses the importance of having multiple contingency plans in place."As we get closer to the auction, we start considering the auction dynamics that will come into play," Bobat said in a statement. "Knowing the set orders and potential player availability significantly impacts our planning and strategy."Bobat highlights the crucial task of setting cost parameters for different player roles and emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptability during the auction. "We're trying to prepare for as many eventualities as possible," he added. "There's no absolute certainty, but we have plans A, B, C, and D to ensure we can react quickly and make informed decisions."RCB has retained only three players for the upcoming season: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. This leaves them with a purse of INR 83 crore and three Right to Match (RTM) cards to acquire former capped players.Bobat acknowledges the challenges of building a balanced squad with limited retentions. "We have a clear understanding of the areas we need to strengthen," he said. "We'll be looking for players who can complement our existing core and contribute to our overall team performance."The IPL 2025 mega auction promises to be a highly competitive affair, with 574 players set to go under the hammer and only 204 spots available across the ten franchises. Teams will need to carefully consider their needs, budgets, and potential player combinations to emerge from the auction with a squad capable of challenging for the title.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has emphasized its commitment to fostering strong player relationships throughout their tenure with the franchise. This approach was evident in the recent departure of Glenn Maxwell, who was not retained for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, explained that the decision to call Maxwell and inform him of the non-retention was part of the franchise's culture of building and maintaining strong bonds with players. "At RCB, culture isn't just about the middle of the journey, where everyone is together. It's about building strong bonds at the start and honouring them at the end," Bobat said.Maxwell, who scored 1266 runs in 52 games for RCB, expressed his appreciation for the open and respectful communication he received from the franchise. "It was a very beautiful exit meeting. We ended up talking about the game for almost half an hour - talking about the strategy, and looking to go forward," Maxwell said.Bobat acknowledged the difficulty of parting ways with players but emphasized the importance of respecting their journeys and building a special team culture. "Saying goodbye to players is never easy, especially with so many shared memories. While it's sad to part ways, it's also an opportunity to bring in new heroes for RCB and our fans," he said.Maxwell's positive experience with RCB stands in contrast to that of his teammate Mitchell Starc, who was not retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) despite playing a key role in their 2024 IPL title victory. Starc expressed disappointment at not receiving any communication from KKR regarding his non-retention.RCB's approach to player relationships highlights the importance of transparency, respect, and maintaining strong connections both during and after a player's time with the franchise. This approach fosters a positive and supportive environment that benefits both the players and the team as a whole.

Virat Kohli's RCB Captaincy Return Rumors Quashed by FranchiseAs the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention lists were unveiled, speculation ran rampant about Virat Kohli's potential return as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, RCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, has dismissed these rumors, stating that no decision has been made regarding the team's captaincy.Kohli relinquished the RCB captaincy after the 2021 season, making way for a new leader. The franchise entrusted the responsibility to former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who led the team for three seasons. However, with Du Plessis released from the squad, the question of RCB's captaincy in 2025 remains unanswered."I am sorry to disappoint everybody listening. We have not made any decision related to captaincy or on that (Kohli returning as skipper) as yet. We are open to options. The only obvious decision we made was not to retain Faf. He did a great job last year and the year before that. So from our perspective, we will keep a very open mind when we head to the auction," Bobat told JioCinema after the IPL 2025 retentions were announced.Despite the lack of official confirmation, reports suggest that Kohli is eager to reclaim the team's captaincy. However, no concrete decision has been made on the matter.Meanwhile, RCB coach Andy Flower has explained the rationale behind retaining Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal ahead of the new season."We are thrilled to retain Yash Dayal, an extraordinary talent whose career is on an upward trajectory. His unique ability as a left-arm bowler, capable of swinging the ball in both directions, adds a valuable dimension to our bowling attack - one that is increasingly rare in the auction landscape," he said."Rajat Patidar is a key member of our squad. His exceptional talent and resilience have already made a significant impact on our team, and he truly embodies the spirit of RCB. We are excited to see him continue to develop and shine in the upcoming season," the Zimbabwe legend added.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are poised to kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign on Friday, and star batter Virat Kohli is in prime form, according to the team's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat.Bobat, who has been closely observing Kohli during training, praised the batter's exceptional form. "Virat's in a good place. He's an absolute champion cricketer, and he's at a stage in his career where most of what he does is hardwired into him. He's coming in fresh, which is what we're excited about," Bobat said at a pre-match press conference.Kohli has had a break from cricket and is eager to get involved, Bobat added. "He's had a good bit of time off, he's in a great frame of mind, and he's hitting the ball brilliantly."Bobat, who joined RCB this season along with new head coach Andy Flower, expressed excitement about the team's balanced squad. "We've got a fantastic group of players, we're in good shape, and we're fully fit. We're going to pay most of our attention to how we want to play our cricket," he said.Bobat highlighted the team's strong bowling attack, which includes international and IPL-winning experience. "We've got a lot of international experience and IPL-winning experience. In our Indian quicks, we've got some high-quality players as well, with international and 'A' team experience," he said.The spin department also boasts potential and experience, with players like Himanshu Sharma, Mayank Dagar, and Karn Sharma. "We feel like we've got a really good balanced side. We've got some good all-rounders as well that will contribute. Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green. We're very confident with our bowling attack," Bobat concluded.