IPL 2018: 3 tactical changes Royal Challengers Bangalore should make to get back to winning ways

Since the inception of the IPL, 11 talented boys in a red shirt have done everything to satisfy their fans except winning the trophy. With a decade-long dust occupying the Royals Challengers Bangalore trophy cabinet, their management built a new-look side with loads of hope and expectations. Expecting that this will be their year, they proudly made their season tagline 'Ee sala cup namade'.

But 4 matches into the IPL, their hopes are once again looking bleak. The dreams are drying up in the wicked world of reality and their new look squad is looking like one of the worst of this year's IPL. RCB have won only 1 game out of the 4 that they have played this season. However, their skipper Virat Kohli doesn't know how to give up, and they can make a fighting comeback by making these 3 tactical changes.

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#3 Manan Vohra in place of Sarfaraz Khan

Manan Vohra should get a look in

Royal Challengers Bangalore started with two overseas openers in their playing XI. But the Brendon McCullum-Quinton de Kock opening pair didn't click for them. The former had scored only 47 runs in 3 games, which resulted in his exclusion from the team for the last game against Mumbai Indians.

However, Quinton de Kock has given returns. But a player RCB should be concerned about is Sarfaraz Khan. RCB had huge faith on Sarfaraz as they used up a retention quota on him. Unfortunately for them, he has scored only 11 runs in 3 games so far at a strike rate of under 65.

Hence, they should look for his alternative in another dependable Indian batter, Manan Vohra. Vohra's last year's average is over 25 and strike rate is over 140. Though he played mainly as an opener for KXIP, he can slot in at any position available. RCB can use him to open the innings alongside de Kock if they want Kohli and AB de Villiers to control the shaky middle-order.

#2 Using an extra overseas pacer

Tim Southee can rectify RCB's weak bowling

One of the striking problems of RCB over the years has been their weak bowling. Nothing has changed this year as Chris Woakes and company are receiving thrashings in every other game. So far, RCB has used Woakes as their only overseas pace option. Umesh Yadav has been a constant feature of their team, while Kulwant Khejroliya and Mohammed Siraj have been used as the second Indian pace option.

Though Woakes and Umesh have found it tough to contain runs, they are two wicket-taking options. On the contrary, both Khejroliya and Siraj have failed to impress. Siraj conceded 34 runs in 4 overs without taking any wicket, whereas Khejroliya conceded 107 in 10.5 overs by taking just 2 wickets. His economy rate is almost 10 runs per over.

In such a situation, they can use Tim Southee as a pace bowling option. As mentioned in the previous slide, they can get an overseas slot by picking two Indian openers. Southee has played 29 games in the IPL so far, in which he has picked up 22 wickets. But what is more important than that is his economy rate, which is just over 8 runs per over. With the other bowlers failing to contain runs, Southee can play a vital role.

#1 Picking Colin de Grandhomme instead of Corey Anderson.

Colin de Grandhomme can be a match-winner

Corey Anderson was once regarded as 'the next big thing' in world cricket, but that is nothing but mere history now. Anderson may have played more IPL matches than Colin de Grandhomme, but the latter now holds an upper-hand in the national side and should be regarded for the playing XI of RCB ahead of Anderson.

Anderson's economy rate was just under 10 runs per over when de Grandhomme conceded runs at an economy rate of a bit over 8 runs per over for KKR last year. In the last game against MI, Anderson conceded 47 runs in 4 overs. Hence, it was obvious that many were left stupefied after the team lists were declared.

Moreover, de Grandhomme is known for his power hitting. His last year's IPL strike rate was a notch under 140, whereas his T20I career strike rate is over 150. The only thing that goes against him is his average, which is less than Anderson's by around 5. However, with inexperienced players like Sarfaraz Khan and Washington Sundar forming RCB's lower-order, they are desperately in need of a clean hitter of the ball who can strike the ball from the word 'go', and de Grandhomme is the man to look forward to.