IPL 2025: ‘Why No Faith In Local Talent?’ Venkatesh Prasad Questions RCB’s Strategy
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Despite lacking silverware, Bengaluru have emerged as a heavyweight in IPL because of the star power and immense fan following over the years.
IPL 2025: ‘Why No Faith In Local Talent?’ Venkatesh Prasad Questions RCB’s Strategy (Picture credit: BCCI)
Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has questioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s strategies with less than a month to go for IPL 2025, asking why the franchise doesn’t have any faith in local talent.
Bengaluru have built a reputation for being reliant on star players and overseas talent and have not been able to develop players from scratch, like some of the other sides.
Prasad has criticised Bengaluru’s management for prioritising brand value instead of promoting local talent.
“How a team is managed makes all the difference. Other teams are putting faith in local talent, so why is RCB not doing the same? Are they building a brand, or are they truly focused on winning the IPL?” Prasad questioned while speaking on JioHotstar.
Bengaluru’s current team boasts Manoj Bhandage and Devdutt Padikkal as local players. The former is an all-rounder who has featured in the Karnataka Premier League and was in the Bengaluru squad for the last two seasons as well but didn’t play any games.
Bhandage last played a match in December, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He picked seven wickets in as many matches in the tournament, at an impressive economy of 7.55.
Padikkal, on the other hand, has plied his trade for Bengaluru before. He was last seen in action in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored 129 runs in four matches at an average of 32.25.
The likes of former India spinner Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid were part of the franchise in the initial years. Other local players like Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and R Vinay Kumar became part of the team but couldn’t leave a lasting impression.
Meanwhile, not just Prasad but Bengaluru received some flak from across the border as well. Former Pakistan opener Ahmad Shahzad said that he has a solution to end Bengaluru’s trophy drought, which is by making Mohammad Amir play in the tournament.
Shahzad’s comments came in a GEO TV show which had Amir and former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, who said that Bengaluru shouldn’t even think of laying their hands on the IPL trophy till former India captain MS Dhoni is playing for the Chennai Super Kings.
