Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team full of superstars of world cricket, have always looked strong since the very first edition of Indian Premier league. They almost came very close to lift the trophy in 2009 and 2016. But since 2016, the Bangalore based team finished at the bottom twice and failed to qualify for the playoffs in all the season. With IPL to commence from 19th of September, the three times runners-up are highly optimistic with their current squad to win the elusive trophy as the Virat Kohli led side believes it to be the most-balanced squad since 2016.
On that note let’s take a look at 6 talking points on RCB’s team which can actually lead them to glory in the UAE.
1. Devdutt Padikkal - Young Batting Sensation From Karnataka
For the first time since 2016, RCB can claim to have a good Indian top order batsman with Virat, who can actually open the innings and reduce the burden on Virat at the top. The left handed opener from Karnataka finished his first domestic season being the highest run-scorer in white ball cricket and played a major role for his team in clinching the limited overs titles.
After zero starts in 2019, he is highly expected to open the innings this season with someone like Aaron Finch beside him. It will be a big boost for RCB with an Indian starting at the top who has a SR of 175.75 in T20s and also plays spin very well. He can actually counter the leg spinners in the power play against whom
Finch has an average of 27.4 and can equally maintain a left-right combination. Overall, with someone like Devdutt Padikkal, RCB can relax a bit with their issues at the top and can execute their further plan with Virat in his best position, at 3.
2. AB de Villiers role in the team
AB de Villiers has been the pillar of this team with Virat Kohli for a long time now. As RCB are looking to open their account from the last 12 years, MR 360 Degree has a serious role to play this year.
At the moment he is someone like who has the ability to bat in the death overs and play shots in every direction of the ground. By seeing the current squad of RCB, with Virat at number three his role as a finisher is the most important thing for his team.
Moeen Ali can bat ahead of AB as he has a SR of 197.25 in T20s against spin (163 in IPL) whereas AB has a SR of 132 against spin since 2016. However, AB has an excellent SR of 214 in death overs (16-20) in T20s and a SR of 252 in IPL since 2016 which clears the fact that he should mostly bat at 5 this season.
Coming to his another and the most important role this season is to take the gloves behind the wicket. AB playing as keeper will pave the way for another batsman in the XI and will clearly push in form Devdutt Padikkal to start ahead of Parthiv Patel.
3. Powerplay Overs
Powerplay bowling was one of the biggest concerns for RCB in the last season, where they took just 14 wickets in the first 6 overs. Umesh Yadav who was the highest wicket taker in the powerplay of 2018 edition, could take only 4 in 2019. However he is leading the list of highest wickets in PP since 2016.
So this year, with someone like Steyn who has 28 wickets of his 44 T20 wickets in the PP since 2018, Umesh is expected to bring his fortunes back in the Powerplay this season. Washington Sundar also got a big role to play with the new ball who has more than 50% of his wickets in PP for India. He hardly got to play in the last two seasons for RCB but seriously needs to be backed for as he provides a good batting option in the end as well. Dale Steyn has 10 wickets in PP in MSL 2019 and PSL 2020 combine.
In batting during PP, RCB have second worst SR (127.03) in last the three years. This time they will have the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch to give a good start in the Powerplay, followed by Virat Kohli who scored at a SR of 139 in PP last year. They have a good backup in Parthiv Patel who scored at a rate of 145 in PP in 2019. Hesson on Finch, "We want someone who takes the pressure off AB and Virat, so we’ve got a world-class player.” Finch has been one of the best T20 opener for Australia and is expected to do the same for RCB.
4. Death Specialists
Death bowling has been RCB’s biggest issue for a long time. The game against KKR at Chinnaswamy where RCB bowlers gave away more than 50 runs in a span of two overs is a perfect example of that. Well, with Chris Morris coming into the squad will surely cure some of their major problems in the death overs. He has been in terrific form in case of death bowling. Morris took 13 wickets out of 22 in the death overs in BBL 2019/20 at an ER of 8.38 and has been economical during the last 4 overs in his whole T20 career (8.48 ER) with 8.06 ER in last four seasons of IPL.
Chris Morris will not be alone as young bowling sensation, Navdeep Saini who has equally impressed everyone with his pace, specially in the end overs, clearly makes the RCB bowling lineup a way better in the death. They also have the likes of Isuru Udana, who is expertise in bowling various variations and might play a big role in the later half of the season.
5. All-Rounded Spin Attack
As the IPL is going to take place in UAE this year, there is a huge chance for spinners to become the main weapon for each team, depending on conditions. RCB have immense options in their spin bowling which makes them one of the strongest spin attack in the tournament.
With the likes of Yuzi Chahal, Washington Sundar, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi they have also included Adam Zampa into their squad as a replacement of Kane Richardson and might proved to be a masterstroke as the tournament progressed.
They have a good backup for every guy starting the XI including two spin bowling all-rounders which gives RCB a perfect spin attack to start the 13th edition.
6. Gurkeerat Mann - A man to go in need
With only four overseas slots allowed, Gurkeerat Mann being an Indian can replace any overseas batter in the need of an extra overseas bowler in the XI. In case, the team needs Zampa in the later half of the tournament where they will play three of their last five games in Abu-Dhabi, Gurkeerat can come into the XI and make space for Zampa or even Udana. He can even start in the first match as we are uncertain about the availability of the Australia and England players in the first week.
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