IPL 2025: Rating teams based on their retentions and releases

6. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) welcomed Faf du Plessis at the helm as he replaced Virat Kohli as the captain ahead of the 2022 season of the IPL. The South African led the team to the playoffs in two out of three editions after the previous mega-auction. However, the 40-year-old wasn't retained by the franchise. They will, however, have the chance to have him back by using one of the three RTM cards available to them at the mega-auction.

RCB retained Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal for INR 21, 11, and 5 crore, respectively. The former is reportedly interested in taking charge of RCB once again. This means that RCB won't have to go out in search of a new captain at the auction table. They will be able to use INR 83 crore to assemble a strong squad at the mega-auction.

It was a bold move from RCB to release Mohammed Siraj. The right-arm pacer had been an integral part of their side since he joined the franchise back in 2018. He could be brought back into the fold by using an RTM card.

Impactful foreigners like Glenn Maxwell, Will Jacks, and Cameron Green have also been released by the franchise. RCB's director of cricket Mo Bobat later confirmed that Green will miss IPL 2025 due to injury and the franchise would have retained him had he been available.