Will Salt & Hazlewood return?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be aiming to seal their berth in the IPL 2025 playoffs with a win against LSG on Friday. Rajat Patidar and co. have enjoyed nearly a six-day break following their narrow 2-run win against CSK in Bengaluru. RCB will be forced to make changes to their playing XI following an injury and uncertainty over the availability of few star players.

RCB predicted playing XI vs LSG

Hazlewood & Salt back?

Hazlewood, who is one of RCB’s best bowlers in IPL 2025, was left out of the previous game due to a shoulder niggle. RCB missed him in the previous game as CSK nearly managed to take the game away from them. However, thanks to a stupendous last over from Yash Dayal, the hosts were saved of the blues.

Similarly, RCB’s most explosive batter in the powerplay – Salt – has missed a couple of games due to an illness. While Jacob Bethell did a good job in his absence, the team would want Salt back as soon as possible.

After the game against CSK, RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik said that he is hopeful the duo would return to action in the game against LSG. It remains to be seen if they will make it to the playing XI on Friday.

DDP out

Devdutt Padikkal has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025 due to an untimely injury. He excelled in his role at number 3, stitching crucial partnerships with Kohli and others.

Now, RCB have roped in DDP’s fellow Karnataka star Mayank Agarwal as his replacement. The batter, who is a veteran, will make it to the playing XI straightaway.

RCB squad for IPL 2025

Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Liam Livingstone, Swapnil Singh, Mayank Agarawal, Josh Hazlewood, Philip Salt, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh