The IPL 2025 season is two weeks away, and former Pakistan cricketers Rashid Latif and Ahmed Shehzad have shared banter about Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Latif claimed RCB can’t win the title while MS Dhoni plays for Chennai Super Kings, while Shehzad suggested Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir could help RCB’s chances. However, Amir currently cannot play in the IPL due to restrictions on Pakistani players. RCB enters the season with new captain Rajat Patidar and hopes to end its title drought, having retained key players like Virat Kohli and making significant acquisitions in the mega auction. They open against Kolkata Knight Riders.
With just two weeks to go until the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, a playful exchange has already unfolded between two former Pakistan cricketers, particularly regarding the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This franchise, led by Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, is notable for being one of the few teams that has never clinched the IPL title. In a recent dialogue, former Pakistan player Rashid Latif expressed the view that RCB’s chances of winning the IPL are nonexistent as long as MS Dhoni remains active.
During an appearance on the ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ show aired by Pakistan’s Geo News, former cricketer Ahmed Shehzad remarked that RCB’s only path to securing the trophy would be to recruit Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir.
In response, Latif shared his thoughts on Dhoni.
“If Amir joins RCB, they might have a chance at the IPL title,” said Shehzad.
“As long as MS Dhoni is with CSK (Chennai Super Kings), don’t even consider RCB reaching for the IPL trophy,” Latif countered.
Despite the playful banter, it should be noted that Amir is currently unable to play for RCB since players from Pakistan are not permitted to participate in the IPL.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: IPL 2025
RCB approaches the upcoming IPL season after an impressive turnaround in IPL 2024. They were positioned last for a significant part of the season but secured six consecutive victories, making a dramatic leap into the playoff positions.
This season, RCB will see a new captain at the helm. 31-year-old Rajat Patidar has been appointed as the franchise captain following the decision not to retain Faf du Plessis ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Before the mega auction, RCB retained just three players: Kohli, Patidar, and pacer Yash Dayal. Their priciest acquisition during the auction was Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood for Rs 12.50 crore. They also made significant purchases including Phil Salt (Rs 11.5 crore), Jitesh Sharma (Rs 11 crore), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs 10.75 crore).
RCB’s IPL 2025 campaign will kick off on the opening day, facing off against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata.
Hoping to finally clinch a title in 2025, RCB stands among only three teams that have participated in every IPL season without ever winning the championship.
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