Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview: RCB on a quest to achieve the silverware
Powered by a top-order batting line-up that could intimidate any opposition on any given day, Royal Challengers Bangalore's trophyless run in the IPL is a case study. The lack of a proper bowling attack and an inexperienced middle-order have been touted as the major reasons for their debacle.
Last season overview
Skipper Virat Kohli had finished the season with a colossal 973 runs, while AB de Villiers had 687 runs to his name. But, their two bowling spearheads Mitchell Starc and Samuel Badree were ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury concerns and the loss was felt dearly as Bangalore lost five of their first seven matches. They conceded more than 170 runs in each of their first nine matches which
From the half-way point on, RCB had four home matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the batsmen ruled the roost. On the batting-friendly tracks, their batsmen, especially Kohli and de Villers blazed away to reach unreal heights, leaving their bowlers with a little to do. Kohli struck as many as four centuries in the tournament to bring RCB’s dominance to the fore yet again.
In the later phase of the tournament, RCB's bowling also fell into place as English pacer Chris Jordan, Karnataka pacer Srinath Aravind, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal shone with the ball, while Shane Watson led the bowling attack effectively.
In the final, though, Sunrisers, who had the tournament's best bowling side, prevailed over the tournament's best batting side to win their maiden IPL title. But it was a great year for the RCB, nonetheless.
Strengths
RCB’s batting order is a T20 fan’s fantasy. Although Kohli is injured and out of action for the first leg of the tournament, they have a very good mix of batsmen to demoralize the opposition. 'Big man' Gayle has the capability to take any opposition down on his day while de Villiers and Kohli's abilities are also second to none. The small dimensions of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium
In the just-concluded home season, Kedar Jadhav rose to the occasion and became the new pin-up star in the ODI set-up by showcasing some magnificent performances against England and New Zealand. His match-winning 76-ball 120 in Pune even forced Virat Kohli to play the second fiddle. He continued that form for Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, hitting 375 runs in seven matches at an average of 53.57. If he clicks on the given day, RCB can breathe well.
Left-arm seamer Aniket Choudhary and all-rounder Pawan Negi can give the team cushion of bowling, and Negi has the ability to chip in with his batting belligerence as well.
Weaknesses
Bangalore’s strength has always been their awe-inspiring and bruising batting line-up. Coming into the tournament, the team think-tank had no reasons to worry for their batting, but now that has become the biggest setback for the RCB franchise for the injuries to star players like Kohli, de Villiers, and KL Rahul.
KL Rahul has been ruled out for the entire tournament, and the world awaits to get the clear picture of the extent of Kohli’s injury. To add more to the woes, AB de Villiers will not feature in the opening encounter against Sunrisers today.
Their bowling stocks have always been the reason of their let down and with Mitchell Starc parted ways with the franchise, it will be arduous for the young bowlers to lead the pack. Although they snapped English pacer, Tymal Mills, it remains to be seen how much value he can add to the team.
In the previous years, it was their lack of incisiveness in death overs, which was the reason for their failure to defend even bigger totals. With Mills in the action this time, RCB would hope that they can stem the opposition from scoring runs freely.
Ideal Playing XI
Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (capt), AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav (wk), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tymal Mills, Aniket Choudhary
Fixture:
Apr 05, Wed Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hyderabad
Apr 08, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils, Bengaluru
Apr 10, Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Indore
Apr 14, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians, Bengaluru
Apr 16, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rising Pune Supergiant, Bengaluru
Apr 18, Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajkot
Apr 23, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata
Apr 25, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bengaluru
Apr 27 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Lions, Bengaluru
Apr 29, Rising Pune Supergiant vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune
May 01, Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
May 05 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
May 07 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
May 14 Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
