During the IPL 2025 clash against Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opted for their green jerseys in a special initiative to spread awareness about tree plantation. The match, held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, saw RCB skipper Rajat Patidar win the toss and choose to bowl first.
Patidar highlighted the reason behind the green attire, stating, “This (green jersey) is to raise awareness to plant more trees. Same team for us.” The gesture aligns with RCB’s annual tradition of promoting environmental sustainability, emphasizing the importance of preserving nature and encouraging fans to contribute to a greener planet.
Match Lineups and Toss Reactions
RCB made no changes to their playing XI for the match, while the Rajasthan Royals (RR) introduced one alteration—bringing in Wanindu Hasaranga in place of Fazalhaq Farooqi. Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson revealed that they, too had intended to bowl first, citing that local conditions typically favor batting in the latter half of the game.
“Actually, we also wanted to bowl first. Normally it gets better to bat here. If we respect the opposition and play to potential, we will be fine,” Samson commented. He added that team morale remains strong despite recent ups and downs, urging his squad not to allow any doubts into the dressing room.
Playing XIs for Both Teams
The Rajasthan Royals fielded a team comprising Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (captain and wicketkeeper), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, and Tushar Deshpande. Their impact substitutes included Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Kunal Rathore.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s playing XI featured Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, and Yash Dayal. Their bench of impact players included Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, and Swapnil Singh.
RCB’s green initiative adds a meaningful dimension to the IPL, blending sports with environmental consciousness and reminding viewers of their responsibility toward the planet.
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