Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad criticized Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for not investing in local talent ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. Venkatesh Prasad questioned the Bengaluru-based franchise’s strategy of not showing faith in local players during the T20 tournament.
The Royal Challengers have been criticized for relying heavily on star players and overseas talent rather than nurturing local players. RCB have struggled to build a strong core of local players, unlike other franchises. The team remains one of the most popular franchises despite not winning an IPL title.
Other Teams Are Putting Faith in Local Talent – Venkatesh Prasad
The Karnataka Premier League (KPL) was expected to help in discovering local talent, but it has not yielded the desired results for RCB. The franchise acquired some Karnataka players through the IPL auction, but none have made a significant impact. They are yet to integrate local players into their setup.
Venkatesh Prasad was not impressed with the Royal Challengers for prioritizing brand value over local talent. He questioned why the franchise has not shown faith in homegrown players, unlike other teams that have developed local stars. Prasad urged RCB to focus on getting the best out of their players.
“How a team is managed makes all the difference. Other teams are putting faith in local talent, so why is not RCB doing the same? Are they building a brand, or are they truly focused on winning the IPL? They need to get the best out of their players, which has not happened so far,” Venkatesh Prasad said on JioHotstar.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Have Two Local Players in Their Squad
Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently have two local players in their squad. Manoj Bhandage has been with the franchise since 2023 but has yet to make his IPL debut. He last played competitive cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he took seven wickets in as many matches with an economy of 7.55.
Devdutt Padikkal played for RCB as an opener before being released after the 2021 season. Following stints with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants, he has rejoined Bengaluru for the 2025 season. He recently featured in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 129 runs in four matches at an average of 32.25.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Name Rajat Patidar as New Captain
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have entered a new phase following the appointment of Rajat Patidar as their captain for IPL 2025. Patidar replaced Faf du Plessis, who led the team in the last three seasons.
RCB had a strong local presence with Karnataka stars like Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Mayank Agarwal, and R Vinay Kumar in the early years of the IPL. However, these players failed to leave a lasting impact on the franchise.
RCB will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Friday, March 22.
Also read: “Challenged Virat Kohli to hit me”- Abrar Ahmed reveals what happened in Champions Trophy 2025
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