Not only Bengaluru, but the entire India celebrated RCB’s victory, who lifted the coveted IPL title after a long wait of 17 years. Even the broadcast reach skyrocketed to more than 60 crore views on the final day on the digital platform, which shows the large fan base of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise.

RCB’s First IPL Title

Celebrations went wild when Josh Hazlewood bowled the last ball. Virat Kohli, the loyal member of the club, was in tears, and his dream of lifting the IPL title was finally fulfilled. All these milestones wouldn’t have been achievable without the team effort, including the support staff, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. With the celebrations settling down, all eyes now turn to the future—what lies ahead for RCB? Will the management shake things up, or stick with the winning formula? One of the biggest talking points will undoubtedly be the 2026 RCB retained list. In the sections ahead, we break down the standout performers from the 2025 season.

Related Article：How Did RCB Win IPL Trophy? A Breakdown of Key Factors

2025 RCB Best Players：4 Stars Likely to be Retained

1. Krunal Pandya

Everyone wondered and doubted when the RCB management picked up Krunal Pandya for a sum of Rs 5.75 crore in the auction held at Jeddah last year. With his accurate left-arm spin bowling and useful batting down the order, the 34-year-old played a vital role in helping RCB to lift their maiden IPL title after 17 long years.

Rising to the occasion 🫡

Krunal Pandya spins the game #RCB‘s way with a magnificent spell 🪄

Drop a word to describe that performance 👇

Updates ▶ https://t.co/U5zvVhcvdo#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @krunalpandya24 pic.twitter.com/uZOFZEZGO3

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

Playing under the shadows of his younger brother Hardik Pandya, making a name for himself wasn’t an easy option for Krunal, but he underwent all the hurdles, and guess what, he is now a 4-time IPL Champion. Krunal was purchased by the RCB management purely on the merit of his bowling skills, also he is someone who can provide batting depth. At the end of the tournament, he emerged as one of the 2025 RCB best players.

Sixes sweeter than ever 🤌

Krunal Pandya’s bat did all the talking in that incredible 73* (47) 👊

Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/9M3N5Ws7Hm#TATAIPL | #DCvRCB | @krunalpandya24 pic.twitter.com/RZWKy8RCBK

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 27, 2025

He finished as the joint 2nd leading wicket-taker for the franchise with 17 scalps in 15 matches, with the best figures of 4 for 45. With the bat, he managed 109 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 126.74. His match-winning innings of 73* against Delhi Capitals was 2nd second-best ever knock of his IPL career. He will surely be in the 2026 RCB retained list.

2. Phil Salt

Athletic on the field, daring with the bat, and ever-smiling Phil Salt will make it to the 2025 RCB best players list without any doubt. To be honest, after Chris Gayle, RCB found a swashbuckling opener in the form of Phil Salt, who had previously donned Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders jerseys in the 2023 and 2024 editions, respectively. Salt was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders that lifted the title in 2024. The 28-year-old Englishman became the 10th overall and only 2nd overseas player to win the IPL titles in two consecutive years for different teams.

Salt’s confident about the comeback and we truly believe in him and this unit. 💯#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/dTmQJjZrMx

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 25, 2025

He had a phenomenal run with the bat in IPL 2025, smashing 403 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 175.98 with the best score of 65. Not only with the bat, he even made a difference in the field, taking 9 catches, joint 4th most in the IPL 2025. Following a red-hot season for the franchise, he was cut into the 2026 RCB retained list.

3. Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood, a talismanic speedster from Australia, is one of the few players of the current generation who does not use social media. Probably it was not just an odd topic to bring up here, but it has its importance. Not consuming too much energy on the phone has helped Josh Hazlewood concentrate more on the game rather than unwanted negativity.

Watertight and double delight! 🤩

What an over by Hoff! 👏#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2025 #CSKvRCB pic.twitter.com/a8tTnvVRm6

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 28, 2025

Hazlewood was previously with RCB in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He did play a key role in taking the side to the Playoffs in 2022, picking up 20 wickets in 12 matches. He could only play 3 matches in 2023 and skipped the entire 2024 season due to personal reasons. RCB management was so desperate for him in the auction to bring him back into the squad in 2025, fetching him Rs 12.5 crore. The Australian pace sensation repaid the faith, becoming the leading wicket-taker for the franchise with 22 scalps in 12 matches with the best figures of 4 for 33. Based on his astounding display with the ball, we can easily say he was one of the 2025 RCB best players.

4. Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma would have been a normal cricketer if he had been picked up by any other franchise apart from RCB in the auction. He had previously represented Punjab Kings in 3 seasons between 2022-2024 and also made it to the Indian T20I side, featuring in 9 matches.

Jitesh Sharma’s moto: If it’s in his radar, it’s going for a ride! 🏎🌪#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/yvxcpK1RLW

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 30, 2025

He didn’t get the recognition he deserved, however, his inclusion in the RCB squad was enough for him to increase his value. His glove work behind the stumps was the main highlight throughout the IPL 2025, where he kept in all 15 matches, affecting 20 dismissals overall. In front of the wicket, he collected 261 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 176.35. With his amazing performances, he will likely be included in the 2026 RCB retained list.

Related Article：IPL 2025 Final Highlights：What a Close Call!

Which RCB Player Will be Retained in IPL 2026？

IPL 2025 ended on a historic high, with RCB finally lifting their maiden title after 18 long seasons. As we look back at the campaign, the contributions of the 2025 RCB best players stand out as the backbone of this triumph. With a new era unfolding, the focus now shifts to the future and the much-anticipated 2026 RCB retained list—who stays, who moves, and how the franchise builds on this championship legacy.